EXTREMISTS DEFEATED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26906, 19 October 1948, Page 6

EXTREMISTS DEFEATED

NORTHERN MINERS* UNION

p.A. AUCKLAND, Oct. 18. The extremist section has failed to gain control of the Northern Miners’ Union. The result of the election of officers was announced in Huntly tonight, and according to comment in union circles, it signifies the heaviest defeat 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 strike. Mr Hall defeated Mr H. Gillies, of the Macdonald mine, for the post of president and 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 Hail took office two. years ago, was defeated in the two contests in which he took part.