COAL SHORTAGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 219, 28 June 1947, Page 6

COAL SHORTAGE

STEEL CUTS IN AMERICA (Rec. 12.40) NEW YORK, June 27. The: Carnegie Illinois Steel corporation announced to-day that operations had been curtailed 55 per cent, because of the coal shortage. United States Steel previously announced a 13 per cent, reduction. * A company spokesman explained that remaining coal stocks must be conserved so that blast furnaces and coke ovens could be held under banked fires to avoid damage. The reduction of steel output will immediately compel the curtailment of production in such industries as automobiles and refrigerators. The United Mineworkers journal editorially to-day urged Labour to fight the Taft-Hartley Labour Act with “courage and action.” The editorial said that the eoal operators had made no effort to resume the contract negotiations stalled last month, and suggested the operators had stalled negotiations hoping for legislative help. The sentiment for full work stoppage is reported to be growing in the coalfields, if no contract agreement is made' by July 8, when the vacation period normally ends. The United Mineworkers journal points out that Government authority to operate the coalmines expires on June 30, and, as no working contract will then exist, there are grave doubts whether any injunction against the United Mineworkers Union could be obtained or sustained, if the 1 miners adhered to their traditional policy of “no contract —no work.”