RATIONING FEAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 147, 23 June 1945, Page 6

RATIONING FEAR

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY Federal Government Sees Unemployment Danger N.Z. Press Association —Copyright Rec. 2 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. The Federal Government has intervened in an effort to prevent electricity rationing next Monday, because of the shrinkage of the coal supply. The Federal Minister for Supply and Shipping, Senator Ashley, has rushed to Sydney from Canberra in an effort to avert the imposition of restrictions.

Federal and State Ministers conferred in Sydney to-day. The Commonwealth is expected to ask the State to postpone a proclamation of rationing regulations, on the assurance that coal supplies will be maintained.

Federal Labour members fear that rationing will cause widespread unemployment. This and public resentment, says the Daily Telegraph, would adversely affect them in their electorates.

A survey of trade unions has disclosed that thousands of workers would be penalised by the imposition of electricity rationing. The assistant-secretary of the Metal Trades Employers' Association, Mr. D. G. Fowler, said that at least 100,000 metal trades employees in Sydney would be affected in varying degrees if rationing were introduced, and added that, while every effort would be made to employ as many shift workers as possible on day work, large numbers would be stood down without pay.

If the State Government adheres to its decision and electricity rationing is imposed on Monday it is not expected to continue for longer than two weeks unless rationing is also introduced in Victoria.

State Cabinet Ministers point out that New South Wales coal is still going to Victoria. They claim that, in view of this, it would be unfair to subject New South Wales to electricity rationing for an indefinite period while Victoria remained unrationed.