STRIKES HINDER PRODUCTION

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23360, 20 June 1941, Page 8

STRIKES HINDER PRODUCTION

Australian Goal Stocks Low

APPEAL BY CHAIRMAN OF BOARD

(F.0.0.C.) ‘ SYDNEY, June 8. Industrial disputes winch hold up the production ana transport of coai are navjng disastrous ettects bn Australia’s war effort, according to the chairman of the Commonwealth Coal Board (Mr Justice Davidson). He appealed to all unionists concerned,- and to mine and shipowners, to co-operate so that coal supplies and reserves would be sufficient to meet all war demands. , “The Coal Board is not interested in the merits of the industrial issues involved,” he said. “But. it is alarmed at the tragic and avoidable-'loss of coal so urgently required ior essential services. Coal stocKs, particularly in the southern district of New South Wales, in Victoria, and South Australia, have not been replenished since they were seriously depleted by the coal strike in 1940. This has been due to lack of shipping and irregular routing of available ships, and to industrial hold-ups in the coalmining industry. Shipping difficulties are unavoidable, because of the war. But, with the elaborate Federal machinery set up to deal with coal disputes, mine stoppages are difficult to justify. “Essential services and heavy industries in Victoria and South Australia depend on coal supplies shipped-from New South Wales. . To provide for current consumption and to build up stocks sufficient for emergencies, Victoria requires 50,000 to 60,000 tons of New South Wales coal every week. South Australia requires 20,000 tons. Weekly shipments to.Victoria, for some time have averaged only 35,000 tons. For the week ended May 31 they dropped to 18,453 tons —30,000 to 40,000 tons less thap requirements. This was due to lack of shipping, “If normal production is maintained sufficient coal can be produced from Maitland coalfield to meet all the immediate demands in New South Wales and the southern states. But working time lost on the Maitland field through industrial disputes averages 10 per cent. For the week ended May 24 13.5 per cent, of available working days were lost on the Maitland field through strikes, representing a loss of 15,931 tons of saleable output. In the same week mechanical breakdowns and other reasons accounted for a loss of 10,836 tons from the same field, bringing the total loss to 26,767 tons —25 per cent, of the possible saleable output. “The industrial position is even worse on the southern coafields. Some collieries lose more than 20 per cent, working time through strikes. The district average is 12 per cent. Heavy metal industries in New South Wales relying wholly on Southern District coking coals cannot get enough' coaj for current consumption, and are seriously exhausting reserve coal stofiks to maintain production. “The board plans to establish buffer stocks at Newcastle. Coal will be dumped if ships are not available, and can be lifted when ships are available, but mines are idle. Provision is also being made for emergency stocks at country centres. Transport of coal by rail from Lithgow to the Victorian border has started.”