MINERS’ STRIKE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 254, 25 September 1942, Page 4

MINERS’ STRIKE

SECRET BALLOT TO-DAY CONFUSED POSITION (Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 24. Hopes of a complete settlement of the Waikato coal strike being; speedily effected were revived to-day by the announcement that the executive of the Northern M iners’ Union would hold a secret ballot of the men in all the districts to-morrow Hie decision was reached at a lengthy meeting of the executive to-day* after which it was stated that the result of the voting would be announced immediately on the conclusion of the official count to-morrow night.

This move has met with widespread approval from the men and if their frank and open comment on it can be taken as indicative of their voting intentions an overwhelming majority in favour of resuming work should result. Comment is made that tho ballot will at least give a comprehensive and complete indication of the miners’ view’s. In the past fortnight since the last secret ballot w r as held many sectional votes and expressions of opinion and factional influences have contributed to the present confused and obscure position. Satisfaction is freely expressed at the arrangement to announce the voting figures. Omission to do so after the previous ballot caused much wrangling and contention. It is stated that the issues to he put before the men to-morr>w r will be similar to those at the last ballot. Under the rules of the national miners’ organisation a 3-st.hs majority swill he necessary to continue the strike. Any majority less than this percentage, it is stated, cancels tho strike and has the same effect as a majority directly in favour of ending it. * LOSS OF WAGES.

No confirmation could be obtained to-night of the statement reported to have been made to-day in Auckland by the Minister of Mines (Mr Webb) that a ballot would be taken Ob the issue of whether tho men will work in mines under State control. The common belief is that irrespective of any conditional phrasing of the questions on the voting paper the ballot will resolve itself in tlie miners’ eyes to a plain issue of continuing or ending the strike. Tt is taken for granted by the men that subject to their voting for and returning to work forthwith State control will automatically follow There is now no doubt or ambiguity in the minds of the miners ns to the implications of the vote. With the strike and the cessation of coal production nearing the end of the third w’oek and the loss of wages bearing heavily on the community, naked realism is now obtruding itself and is dominating the minor side issues that have clouded the negotiations in recent w’ceks. Hopes are running high that this feeling will be reflected in the voting to-morrow and that complete resumption of work on Monday in all mines will eventuate. Approximately 860 tons of coal were produced at the. three mines which were forking yesterday. The IS2 Pukenifro men who were sentenced last Friday have not yet been called upon to undergo their terms of imprisonment. While no official statement has been made it is generally conceded that tho normal output of 600 tons daily from this mine is a weighty consideration which may influence the authorities in their decision.