NORTHERN MINERS DEFEAT EXTREMISTS IN ELECTIONS

Grey River Argus, 19 October 1948, Page 4

NORTHERN MINERS DEFEAT EXTREMISTS IN ELECTIONS

P.A. AUCKLAND, Oct. 13 The extremist section has failed to gain control of the Northern Miners’ Union. The result of the eiection of officers was announced in Huntly to-night, and, according to comment in union circles, it signifies the heaviest defeat that the extremist members have suffered in the last 25 years or more. Mr T. Hall has been re-elected President. He resigned, following internal dissatisfaction in the union which arose over the failure of the executive to support the recent strike by the men of the MacDonald, Glen Afton and Pukemiro mines. The executive opposed the strikes. The former secretary, Mr H. Hall, also resigned, but he did not offer mmseli tor re-election.

The resignations were followed by a mass meeting at which it was decided to hold a fresh election for all position in the union. Mr T. Hall defeated Mr H. Gillies of the Macdonald mine for the post of president, and he also topped the poll for the other two offices which he contested. ’

Mr E. Kernohan, of the Glen Afton mine, who had not previously sought office in the union, was elected secretary, defeating Mr H. Peden, of the MacDonald mine, by a narrow margin.

Mr R. J. Dunn, who was president of the union until Mr Hall took office two years ago, was defeated in the two contests in which -he took part.