THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9050, 27 March 1908, Page 5

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

An old miner, one who has worked in the district for many years, states that there is a good deal of discontent among the T3 neside miners, and he would not be surprised if they considered the Blackball request favourably. The cause uf complaint with the Tyneside miners is that Blackball bow 3 supplied with Tyneside coal. The result of the meeting on Saturday wil 1 be anxiously awaited!

POSITION STILL SERIOUS.

BY TBLEQBAPH —r-RESS ASSOCIATION . GREYMOUTH, March 26. There are persistent rumours that negotiations are proceeding foe a settlement of the strike, and that in a few days the strike will be settled.

On being- interviewed the manager of the Blackball mine states that as far as he knows such is not the case, and the miners deny any knowledge of what is going on. There is a feeling abroad that the strike will spread. The Blackball Union has appealed to the Tyneside miners and Wharf Labourers' Union to cease work.

The Tyneside miners are holding a meeting on Saturday afternoon to consider the matter.

The Grey wharf labourers meet on Sunday afternoon, and the position will be considered. From interviews with several prominent wharf labourers there appears no reason to believe that they will "throw down their tools," as requested by the Blackball strikers. The position looks serious, and the Blackball miners are as determined a? ever. If the negotiations for a settlement are proceeding it looks peculiar that letters should be sent to the Tyneside miners and wharf labourers asking them to strike. WELLINGTON, March 26.

Mr Hickey, representing the Blackball Miners' Union, addressed about 200 people in the concert room of the Town Hall, this evening, in explanation and defence of the stand taken up by the strikers. Resolutions were passed as follows: (1) That this meeting endorses the action of the miners of Blackball in the stand they have mads, and trusts they will continue to hold that stand until I h;y have secured their full rights. (2) That this meeting pledges itself to prevent the strikers' of Blackball being starved outi (3) That this meeting has no confidence in any laws placed on the Statute Book in the making 'of which the workers are not consulted. The sum of £4O 10s was collected in the hall for the maintenance of the miners' families.