THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9063, 11 April 1908, Page 5

THE BLACKBALL STRIKE.

ASSISTING THE MINERS. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, April 10. The Wellington Trades and Labour Council has invited all the local Unions to send financial assistance to the Blackball miners. The invitation, it is stated, is being responded to by almost every Union. Some are sendingjlump, sums of £5 and upwards weekly. So far only one Union has written refusing to subscribe.

LEGAL OPINION. , WELLINGTON, April 10. At the request of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., has given an opinion on-section 15 of the In iustrial Conciliation Act. He says that the section makes it an offence for a Union or worker to (1) propose a strike; (2) strike; (3) take part in a strike; (4) aid or abet a strike, or a movement intended to produce a strike. In ordinary language a strike continues so long as the concerted refusal to work continues, and a strike is said when the men have resumed work. In the ordinary sense a strike is a continuing act. It seems clear that the legislature was aware it wa3 using the expression in this sense, because in clause 5 a i strike, or lock-out, is referred to as | "taking place." The fact that no penalty is provided for the continuance of the strike does not, in Mr Skerrett's opinion, affect the matter. The fine imposed is the punishment for the act of striking, but taking part in a strike or lockout is also punishable. Mr Skerrett considers the suggestion is unfounded that the act of, aiding or abetting must be previous to the strike to be punishable. He is of opinion that Unions passing resolutions encouraging the continuance of a strike, and donating funds in aid of strikers, are liable to punishment.

| AN ALLEGATION.

CHRISTCHURCH, April 10. The special correspondent of the "Lyttslton Times" at Graymouth, reports that the Executive of the Blackball Mi ;ers' Union have withheld from the men the proposals submitted to them for a settlement of the difficulty, and in fact, even when asked, they refused to produce, for the men's information, important telegrams which would probably have led to a settlement sometime ago. The report futther states that Hickey was sent north to collect monay, and not to confer with others* This is interpreted here to mean that, a 9 long as the Unions in other districts will subscribe money to support the Executive in idleness, they will discourage any attempt at effecting a settlement of the difficulty.