“BACK” SATURDAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26176, 12 June 1946, Page 6

“BACK” SATURDAYS

MINERS DECLINE TO WORK PRESENT WEEK LONG ENOUGH (P.A.) GREYMOUTH, June 11. “After working an average daily shift of 11 hours for five days of the week, we consider that we have done enough.” This view, according to the president of the Runanga State Miners’ Union, Mr G. English, represented the feeling of the men employed at the Liverpool mine, who met at the mine mouth this morning to discuss the request from the Acting Minister of Mines, Mr J. O’Brien, to reconsider their previous decision not to work “back” Saturdays.

The men of both the Liverpool and the Strongman mines resolved to adhere to their original decisions not to work, thus joining the Dobson State miners.

Mr English stated that it was asking too much to request men to work “ back ” Saturdays. The Greymouth miners, leaving home early in the morning, did not return until after 5.30, spending more than 11J hours away. Working these long hours, a niinei after the sixth day often found that he had to take a day off during the next week. When the 11-day fortnight was previously worked, the production figures were lower than for the 10-day fortnight.