INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 63, 4 March 1908, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

DEADLOCK. ('<)>,"i'iXCKS. r,iv\ mouth, Last Night. .Malter; in connection witli the strike ill Blackball wore ipiii't to-dn,v, and there is a deadlock. The conference with .Messrs. J/>nias and 'l'ennent was fruitless, and tlie men are still determined to stand firm and await results. The manager, Mr. Ixiiteh, was in town, and on being interviewed said that the eompany could do no more. He, as manager, did not use bad language in dismissing the men, but <]iiite the reverse. lie felt sure if Mr. Fitzgerald and one or two other agitators were out Of Blackball the men would listen to reason. As it was at present, the agitators were causing groat discontent. The township of Blackball is quiet, and no rowdyism has Wn reported. It is rumored in town to-day that if the strike is not settled to-morrow the Government will take immediate action.

TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL. lieefton, Tuesday. The Westlanil Trade and Labor Council met this morning. Some of the Blackball miners spoke, and the meeting decided that in the opinion of the Council the Blackball men were dis-

charged without reasonable excuse; further, tlit Council strongly urge on the Minister the necessity for immediate moral and financial support to the Blackball Union in its struggle. The methods of the Arbitration Court were freely criticised. iSonie of the .speakers advocated a general strike, but the opinion did not find favor.

THE STRIKE AT BLACKBALL. Grcymoutli, Tuesday. A conference held at Blackball again proved abortive. Everything was arranged except the ballot proposal ,on which both sides arc determined not to give way. [The proposal of the men is that the company should ballot when they find it necessary to dismiss men so tliat individual men might not he victimised.]

A DISPUTE SETTLED. Dunedin, Tuesday. At tin' Arbitration Court to-day drafts of agreements arrived at in the engineers' and metal workers' dispute were handed in. It was explained that a difficulty had arisen in connection with the metal workers' dispute, no provision being made for extra payment when the shift fell between 6 p.m. and !) a.m. It was agreed to hold -another conference to tlia matter amicably.