TOOK A DAY OFF

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 102, 2 May 1944, Page 6

TOOK A DAY OFF

WAIKATO MINERS

MAY DAY OBSERVANCE

AUCKLAND, May 1.

None of the Waikato coal mines was worked today, the men taking it upon themselves, in contravention of instructions from the mining controller, Mr. G. H. Benney, to observe May Day as a holiday. About 1500 miners from the Pukemiro, Macdonald, Glen Afton, Rotowaro, Alison, and Renown mines were concerned, and the estimated loss in production was about 4000 tons. It is understood that the Huntly miners decided not to work as the result of a ballot. , A circular in connection with the observance of Anzac 'Day and May Day was issued by the controller . to colliery owners, mine managers, and union secretaries on April 20. In exercise of his powers under the Industrial Man-power Emergency Regulations he directed that Anzac Day should be observed as a strict holiday. However, May Day was to be regarded as an ordinary working day, except that wages were to be paid at the rates prescribed in the awards for work on holidays. Mr. Benney said the additional cost to colliery owners of work on May Day would be refunded by the Government. The directions of the controller were carried out in the Whangarei district today, when full shifts were worked at both the Kamo and Hiku-, rangi mines. "REGRETTABLE," SAYS MR. WEBB. While he described the stoppage as regrettable, no indication of the official attitude to the men's action was given by the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb) when the matter was referred to him in Auckland. He said, however, that May Day was a traditional holiday and was regarded by the miners as a day of good will and fraternity. They very much resented forgoing the holiday, but he personalia felt they would have been helping the May Day cause much more by producing coal and assisting to meet the present crisis than by stopping. Generally speaking, the miners were doing a good job, and he hopod that, in the public interest, they would make up the lost production. WORK AT GREYMOUTH All the State coal mines in ; the Grey district worked on May Day, with the exception of Wallsend, where the employees decided to observe a holiday as in the past. This is the second May Day on which the mines have worked, the previous occasion being in 1942. Last year May lif ell on a Saturday. HEAVY CALENDAR CRIME SKEET AT AUCKLAND P.A. AUCKLAND, This Day. Regret that the criminal calendar in Auckland was much heavier than usual was expressed by his Honour Mr. Justice Fair when addressing the Grand Jury today. , ■ On the list were 31 charges against 36 persons, the Judge said; These included two charges of murder, two of negligent driving causing death, seven sexual offences; two charges of robbery with violence, one of detaining a child from its lawful guardian, three of breaking and entering and theft, eight of theft, including one in which an amount of over £ 1900 was involved. There were seven charges of sly grog selling. The main cause of the increase in the charge sheet, stated his Honour, was the list of cases relating to the manufacture and trafficking in spirituous liquor brewed illicitly. The shortage of spirits and the high profits obtainable from their illegal sale had led to a large increase in that trade which brought in its train lawlessness, immorality, and crime. All good citizens must feel the gravest concern that a disreputable section of the community had found such an outlet for its activities, and all must commend the energetic steps of the police officers to put an end to that traffic. AWARDED D.S.C. N.Z. NAVAL OFFICER Advice has been received from the Admiralty that the King has approved the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Temporary Lieutenant M. V. Rout, Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, for good service with coastal forces in action with enemy light forces. Lieutenant Rout joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as an ordinary seaman under Scheme B on October 31, 1940, and after undergoing training in the United Kingdom was promoted to temporary sub-lieutenant, R.N.Z.N.V.R., in January; 1942, and to temporary lieutenant in July last. Lieutenant Rout was born on January 29, 1919, at Nelson, and before entering the Royal New Zealand Navy was a mining student. His wife, Mrs. Phyllis J. Rout, lives at 74 Long Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, and his father, Mr. William V. Rout, at Warwick House, Brougham Street, Nelson. ■ FLOATING MINE SEEN A floating mine was discovered in Amodeo Bay, Coromandel, on Sunday afternoon, but was washed back off the shore by a heavy sea before it could be secured. It had not been relocated up to this afternoon, and a search was proceeding. Fishermen who may be in the vicinity are being warned.