MINERS’ STRIKE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 275, 2 September 1936, Page 3

MINERS’ STRIKE

MEN AT WAIHI IDLE. TROUBLE OVER SATURDAY WORK. (Per Press Association.) AVAI'HI, Sept. 1. A mass meeting of members of the Waihi Aimers’ Union to discuss hours of work adjourned until to-morrow morning. No decision was reached. It is assumed, however, that the general statement made yesterday by the Prime Alinister (the lit. Hon. AI. J. Savage) that the main object of the visit of the Hon. E. Dye, Mr Aloyston (inspector of the Labour Department), and Air Alclvor (an inspector of the department at Hamilton), is to persuade the men to resume work, pending further investigation of the position by the Government. A mass meeting of unionists held on Sunday morning to discuss the 40-hour week question passed the following resolutions: — “That this meeting of unions emphatically protests against the judgment of the Arbitration Court in so far as it permits work on Saturdays. AVe are of the opinion that the judgment in that respect is not in conformity with the spirit of the legislation.”

“That members should work a 40hour week from midnight on Sunday continuous for five; days, overtime rates to apply after that time, and no relieving men to take the place of men stood down during the five days.” The men were unanimous that they should not be required to work broken shifts and required to make up lost time on that particular shift on Saturday. When the men went to work yesterday morning the interpretation of the 40-hour week by the company was not accepted. Certain employees reported at the usual time for work but were not allowed to start until such time as that allotted by the company under its new adjustment of hours to meet the 40-hour week, which members of the union could not agree upon. Consequently all work in the mine and battery ceased yesterdaly.