EARLY END OF STRIKES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24743, 7 December 1945, Page 5

EARLY END OF STRIKES

Prospects Thought VeryShght

DELAYS IN GOAL PRODUCTION (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) . SYDNEY, Dec. 6. Unless there is an over-night cave-iu by. the Miners' Federation, the Ironworkers' Federation, and the Seamen's Union, which precipitated the paralysing strike in New South Wales, trade union leaders believe that prospects of an early settlement are very slight. Responsible elements in the trade union movement rear that unless the strikes . are settled . before the middle of the month, coal production in particularVwill not be resumed until early in the' New Year, because many coaltninerc will ; . have gone away for their Christ- '. mas holidays. ; . This would: mean that, with no coal 1 being produced before the New Year, there, would.-.. be little prospect of normal prc-r . auction before the middle of next y eap - ", '.'.-■:■■' ■ ■ Such a state of affairs would in'--volve the rationing of electricity supplies and train and other essential services for many months. The State Minister for Local Government (Mr J. J. Cahill) said he had been advised by departmental officers, that further restrictions on-the use of gas and electricity will be necessary if .there are no prospects'of an early settlement of the strike. Commencing on Saturday, more than 300 passenger trains to the" country wiir be cancelled. These cuts are additional to the heavy reductions previously imposed, on normal -services because-of the steady- shrinkage of coal supplies Neither do they take into account the restriction of goods trafinto 1 effect yesterday ane Sydney "Sun" says: "Hiehlv secret negotiations which are going on to-day among Commonwealth Ministers and executive officers of the Austrate n . Counc ? of Trade Unions may 7%* i°- a . solu t">n of the steel, coal ?«£. ship P m .S The Ministers honing \ m *u these negotiations are hoping that they may achieve a soluni?♦«&* P resetl * a «on to a conference tiU nf n A de^ E ? tt es t 0 the execu£yfu tt * he Australasian Council of Unions m Sydney to-morrow. rm ™ . of the Australasian h££ CI L (Mr P i J - c^are y> left Can?JfS £ y -aeroplane to-day to confer in Melbourne with the Federal Minuter of Labour (Mr E. J. Hollowly), who, it is understood, is a leadine SESf«i n the - S % c - T f x negotiations Thesl developments link with the proposal e " c / £y Mr Chifley, that Mr Holloway Mr Clarey should co-operate in vffir tm + g -v a *? nal settlement of the various strike issues."