THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9051, 28 March 1908, Page 5

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

NEGOTIATIONS FAIL. BIT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. GREYMOUTH, March 27. Negotiations liavft proved abortive. The dirficulty on which no settlement could bo arrived at was crib time. On this point it is understood the company offered to give half-an-hour after a fortnrght, but this was re- 1 jected, hence the deadlock. It is stated that letters to the Tyreside and Grey wharf labourers were sent last Monday. This was the secret proceeding referred to on Wednesday. Fitzgerald has been appointed an honorary member of the Miners' Union. FINE WILL BE RESISTED. "NO CHANCE OF A COMPROMISE." TYNESIDERS MAY STRIKE IN SYMPATHY. COAL SCARE IN TOWN. GREYMOUTH,March 27. The Blackball Miners' Union considered the proposals by the Labour Department yesterday for assisting a settlement, and the proposals were rejected. The miners are determined to accept no terms' that do not include half an hour crib time. The miners are also determined not to pay the fine of £75, and the decision of the Government to collect the amount from the Union, or proceed /individually against the men, will be met with strong opposition. I Mr Isdell, of the Labour Department, visited Blackball yesterday and had interviews with the miners and the manager of the mine. He states that there is no chance of a ; compromise, both sides remaining ' very firm. ' Great interest is manifested in the ' meeting to he held tomorrow after- ' noon by the Tyneside miners, who I will consider the question of striking ! in sympathy with.the Blackball men. ' There is an uneasy feeling about the ' result, the opinion being that a '< strike will result. < The old resident miners are against a strike, but the younger men are for J going out. If a strike occurs at < Tyneside it will be a serious thing for the mine, as there will be a ' danger of it flooding. ■ 'I here is aimi'ld scare in town, and i coal dealers are rushed with orders. I The Gasworks Department has since the strike built up a reserve of 100 1 (?) tons of coal. i c UNSYMPATHETIC TINSMITHS. J \ CHRISTCHURCH, March 27. The Christchurch Tinsmiths' Union passed a resolution to-night that it could not see its way clear to give financial assistance to the Blackball miners.