COAL STRIKE IN WAIKATO

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23749, 22 September 1942, Page 4

COAL STRIKE IN WAIKATO

Miners’ Offer To Government STATE CONTROL PROPOSED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 21. A decision by the Waikato miners to return to work conditional on the State taking over the mines, and the submission of this proposal to the Government for its consideration were sensational developments at a mass meeting of miners held to-day at Huntly. When the meeting finally adjourned shortly before 6 p.m., after more than seven hours' deliberations, the Government’s decision had not been received. However, it is understood on reliable authority that nationalisation has been under consideration ‘ by the Government for some days. Up to a late hour to-night the position was still indefinite and obscure. This unexpected diversion from the simple issue of the payment of minimum wages to eight coal hewers employed in the Pukemiro mine occurred early in the discussions at the meeting. It created a sharp cleavage among the miners themselves, a considerable minority advocating continuation of the strike until the minimum wages were paid. ~ . .. It cannot be said, however, that the minority are opposed to State control of the mines. The men concerned are quoted as insisting on the original dispute being cleaned up and the control proposals being made secondary ones, which thev would doubtless endorse. No official statement on the proceedings or decisions at the meeting was issued by the Minister of Industrial Manpower (the Hon. A. McLagan), who is also National Secretary of the United Mine Workers of. New Zealand. When ho was interviewed late to-night, he said there were no prospects of any statement being issued for the press. No information as to any further meeting to-morrow was available tonight, but it is expected that one will be arranged for the purpose of receiving the Government’s decision.