STRIKE BALLOT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1942, Page 2

STRIKE BALLOT

DECISION TO RESUME WORK ON MONDAY MAJORITY OF 287 VOTES. EXPRESSIONS OF SATISFACTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 25. An outright majority of 287 votes in favour of resuming work was recorded in the secret ballot of miners held today in connection with the Waikato coal-mining dispute. This result, which ends the strike that began on September 3, was announced in Huntly tonight shortly after 6 o'clock, when 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 till the minimum wage is paid 428 Informal 8 Total 1151 All the Waikato mines were idle today for the purpose of taking the ballot, and at the Mangapehi mine 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 made notes of the figures and hastened back to their homes in the various districts to inform their neighbours. There were many expressions of satisfaction at the result, which will enable the miners to resume work on Monday.

In keeping with the optimistic tone recently reported,, the men’s predictions throughout the day were centred on the question of the majority by which the resumption of work would be carried. Some of the forecasts went so far as to predict a start tomorrow, which, though not the usual working Saturday, was due to be worked under the existing arrangement between the men and the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb. There is little prospect of work starting before Monday, however, when a fresh start is likely to be general at all mines. 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 threefifths majority. On today’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 tonight are 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 today’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. POLITICAL POSITION MR HOLLAND’S* ATTITUDE. LAW MUST BE ENFORCED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Speculation continues concerning the effect on the political situation of the decisions taken by the Government in connection with the coal strike. The possibility that the Leader of the Opposition and Minister of War Expenditure, Mr Holland, may decide to withdraw from the War Administration is being freely canvassed. When interviewed early yesterday morning, Mr Holland gave no hint of his intentions. beyond saying that his first responsibility was to discuss the whole position with his Parliamentary colleagues at the caucus called for Tuesday next. Asked if he still stood by his statement made last week that the law should be observed, and those who broke it firmly dealt with, Mr Holland said he was still emphatically ol the opinion that that was the only proper course to follow. “I believe it is vital in. the national interests,” he said, “that the authority of the Government must be maintained in all circumstances, and that cannot be done if the course of the law is to be interfered with. I cannot and will not, as a matter of principle, give my concurrence to any procedure which interferes with the processes of the law, and I have made my position in this respect plain beyond any shadow of doubt. “The question of whether or not the Government’s proposals constitute socialisation, nationalisation or merely some other form of State control is beside the point,” said Mr Holland. “The immediate issue in this dispute is whether the Government’s authority is to prevail, and whether its laws are to be enforced or not. With regard to the decision to take over the control of the mines, I accept no responsibility whatever. ”