THE BLACKBALL MINERS' STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9040, 16 March 1908, Page 6

THE BLACKBALL MINERS' STRIKE.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. GREYMOUTH. March 14. The Blackball Miners' Union has decided to send delegates to canvas for funds in all parts of the dominion. A COMPLETE DEADLOCK. GREYMOUTH, March 15. There is a complete deadlock at Blackball over the strike. Everything was in readiness for work on Saturday, and the mine officials were in attendance, but no miners turned up, and the mine has closed. The men are determined to stand firm and fight the position. At a meeting held it was decided to canvas for support, and Mr Pritchafd was appointed to canvas Christchurch, Dunedin and the rest of the South Island, while Mr Hickey appeals to Wellington, Westport and i Nelson. Efforts are being macb to get the Tyneside and State colliery mines;to come out, but at meetings held on Saturday the proposals were not favourably received. It is freely rumoured that the Blackball Coal Company intend to close the mine down until the railway from Ngahere to Blackball is completed, and in the meantime to go on erecting new bins. The manager has notified the miners that all agreements and concessions agreed to by him are "off." The miners claim that the dacision of tho Arbitration Court is too severe.

■ On Saturday evening everything was quiet, and no public speeches were delivered. The whole affair is looked upon as very serious by the business people at Creymouth, and the Blackball tradesmen have stopped all credit, refusing to supnly goods unless the money is paid down.