Although set in a fictional place, there is no doubt that Coal Flat is Blackball.The story is centred around Paul Rogers, a young teacher who returns to Coal Flat after war service. He tries to apply knowledge and ideas gained from his years at university, but finds himself in conflict with the conservative attitudes of the local people. In particular he wants to introduce modern ideas about dealing with troubled children, but discovers universal suspicion and rejection. The novel is set at the time of the 1947 Greymouth beer boycott – an almost farcical episode when the unions battled with hotelkeepers about the price of beer – and the community conflicts that eventuate. 1979 Paperback with some underlining on first 6 or so pages (see pics) Nice and tight