Miners’ Ballot

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 15

Miners’ Ballot

“There is no foundation for the rumour that a secret ballot is being taken throughout the New Zealand coalfields to support the Australian miners, who are on strike,” said Mr T. Hall, secretary of the Northern Miners’ Union, at Huntly, when private advice received from Australia was referred to him. “Up to the present no support has been asked for, and none is being given.” Mr Hall added that a ballot was being taken throughout the Huntly coalfields to ascertain whether the men would continue to work under the existing agreement or demand that a new one be drawn up. Mr Hall explained that the miners’ national agreement expired on March 31. At the end of March a conference was held in Wellington between representatives of the coal owners and the miners’ delegates to discuss the agreement, and a satisfactory settlement was not reached. According to the rules of the agreement, either side has the right to give one month’s notice after the expiry of the existing agreement to signify its intention of accepting it. The result of this ballot will not be known for perhaps a week.