THE WAIKATO MINERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 76, 26 September 1942, Page 8

THE WAIKATO MINERS

YESTERDAY'S BALLOT

An outright majority of 287 votes in favour of resuming tvork was recorded in the secret bailor of miners connected with the waikato coal-mining dispute. This result, which ends the strike that began on September 3, was announced in Huntly tonight shortly after 6 o'clock, when complete returns had been received from 10 voting booths. ' Details of the voting are:— In favour of. resuming work. and. allowing the dispute to go _ before the disputes committee 715 In favour of continuing the strike < till the minimum wage is paid 428 Informal ...;... 8

Total

.1151

There were comparatively few miners about when the returning officer posted the results, stormy weather making the conditions outdoors extremely unpleasant. The news spread quickly, however, telephones being busy, while. those who scanned the notice made notes of the figures and hastened back to their homes in the various districts to inform their neighbours. There were many expressions of satisfaction at the result, which will enable the mines to resume work on Monday. ,

MEN'S PREDICTIONS.

In keeping with the optimistic note recently reported, the men's predictions throughout the day were centred on the question of the majority by which the resumption of work would be carried. Some of the forecasts went so far as to predict a start tomorrow, which, though not the usual working Saturday, was due to be worked, under the existing arrangement between the men and the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb). There is little prospect of work starting before Monday, however, when a fresh start is likely to be general at all mines. The substantial nature of the vote approving the ending of the strike is better appreciated when it is borne N in. mind that a continuation of the stoppage would be possible only by a three-fifths majority. It would have required an almost complete reversal of the figures to have approved oi carrying on the strike.