THE STRIKE ENDED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9088, 13 May 1908, Page 5

THE STRIKE ENDED.

SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENT ARRIVED AT. GREYMOUTH, May 1*?. The Blackball strike was settled this afternoon. A general meeting of the Union was held at 3 o'clock, when the following letter was considered from the manager:— "Ngahere, 12th May.— Walter Rogers, Esq. Secretary Miners' Union, Blackball, —Dear Sir,—Re strike. As you are no doubt aware the only mattdr in dispute between your union and my company is the matter of working ten hours by trucking. This difference will be clear when the terms of both parties are quoted in fell. The terms of the union are as follows: (1) The re-instatement of seven men dismissed on February 26th, and the carrying out of the promise by the manager that he will not victimise them; (2) thirty minutes crib time to be allowed; (3) two truckers in important positions to be allowed to work ten hours when required, and miners to do the trucking for the extra two hours when working ten hours. The terms of the company are: —One and two, the same as the union. The third: All other conditions to be the same as before the strike, and in accordance with the award of the Arbitration Court (as this clause effects your terms, the truckers to work ten hours when required). Now from the above it will be clear that we are agreed on the first and second clauses. Thus the only one in dispute is the thirc% and therefore if a suitable arrangement can be made with regard to it the dispute is settled fortunately for us but unfortunately for its sufferer*,. A state of affairs has come to pass which enables us to work the mine by means of two shifts per day, and as there are a large number of men out of work at Brunner I intend to find employment for them if they wish, and at the same time increase the output of the mine by working a double shift, thus obviating the necessity of truckers working ten hours, and therefore doing away with the third clause of both our terms. I am pleased to say that this settles the strike on conditions suitable to both parties. We will commence working on Wednesday, May 13th, with a single shift, and immediately advertise for the necessary men <o work the double shift. On Thursday and Friday we will "cavie" for places, and on the iollowing Monday commence the double, shift.—Yours faithfully, JAMES LEITCH, Mining Manager." It was decided to accept the terms and resume work as stated.