MAY DAY OBSERVED

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1944, Page 5

MAY DAY OBSERVED

AS A HOLIDAY By Waikato Miners

P.A. AUCKLAND. May 1. None of the Waikato coal mines worked to-day. The men took it upon themselves, in contravention of instructions from the Mining Controller, Mr. C. H. Benney to observe May Day as a. holiday. About 500 miners engaged at the Pukemiro, MacDonald, Glen Afton, Rotowaro, Alison, and Renown mines were concerned. It is estimated there was a loss of production of about 4000 tons. It is understood that the Huntly miners decided not to work as the result "of a ballot. I 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 Manpower Emergehcy Regulations, he directed that Anzac Day should be observed as a strict' holiday, and that May Day be regarded as an ordinary working day, except that wages were to be paid at the rates prescribed in awards for work on. holidays.

Mr. Benney said that additional cost to the 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 to-day. when full shifts were worked at both the Kamo • and Hikurangi mines.

Mobile he described the stoppage as regrettable, no indication of the official attitude to the men’s action was given bv the Minister of Mines, Hon. F. C. Webb, when the matter was referred to him in Auckland. He said, however, that May Day was a traditional holiday, and it was regarded bv the .miners as a day of goodwill and fraternity. They very much resented foregoing the holiday, but he personally felt that 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 hoped that, in the public' interest, they would make up "the lost production.