WAIKATO MINES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 255, 26 September 1942, Page 4

WAIKATO MINES

RESUMING ON MONDAY RESULT OF BALLOT (Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 25. An outright majority of 287 votes in favour of resuming work w’as recorded in the secret ballot of miners held to-day in connection with the Waikato coal mining dispute. This result, which ends the strike that commenced on September 3, ■ was announced in Huntly to-night shortly after 6 o’clock, when the 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 until the minimum wage is paid, 428. Eight votes were informal and there were 1151 votes recorded. All the Waikato mines were idle to-day for the purpose of taking the ballot and at Mangapehi work ceased early to enable the men to vote. There were comparatively few miners about when the returning officer posted the results as stormy weather made conditions outdoors extremely unpleasant. The news spread quickly, however, telephones being busy, while those who scanned the notice mado notes of the figures and hastened back to their homes in various districts to inform their neighbours. There were many expressions of satisfaction at the result, which will enable the mines to resume work on Mondav. SCENES IN HUNTLY.

The substantial nature of the vote approving the ending of the strike is better appreciated when it is remembered that a continuation of the stoppage would be possible only by a three-fifths majority. On to-day’s total votes it would have required an almost complete reversal of the figures to have approved of carrying on the strike.

Scenes in Huntly to-night were i very different from those of exactly a fortnight ago, when the first ballot was held. No announcement of that result was posted, nor was any official result given out. There began to creep over the dispute at subsequent meetings a haze of rumour and conjecture which broadened and created confusion, culminating in sharp divisions of opinion, and there was only a partial resumption of work at some mines on Wednesday morning after the Government’s agreement for State control had been notified. The holding of to-day's ballot was the only practicable means of securing a forthright and conclusive opinion on the question of an early resumption of coal production in the national interest