ROCKET RANGE IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25583, 26 August 1948, Page 5

ROCKET RANGE IN AUSTRALIA

Minister’s Comment On Strike Threat permits refused UNION LEADERS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Aug. 26. “The Government will not allow the security of the British Empire to be imperilled because some union leaders are found unsuitable to visit the longrange projectile range at Woomera, South Australia,” said Mr W. J* F. Riordan, Acting-Federal Minister of Supply and Development He was referring to the threat by the South Australian Building Trades Federation to withdraw all members of the building unions from the rocket range unless permits were granted to all the union leaders nominated by the federation to visit the area. It is.believed that the Department of Supply refused permits to five of the 15 union nominees because of their alleged association with Communism, and that four more were disqualified automatically when they failed to fill in papers to establish particulars about themselves, including their place of birth, nationality of parents, and extent of military service. Unofficial Government sources indicate that the security “screenings” will not be relaxed to prevent a strike and that the Commonwealth will fall back if necessary on the Defence Projects Act of last year, which gives the Government power to imprison and fine any person who obstructs a project. An industrial officer of the Australian Workers’ Union, Mr P. Galvin, who made an independent application, has been granted a permit and will visit the range by air next Friday, possibly accompanied by some or all of the other six union leaders who have permits. The purpose of their visit is to study the wages and conditions of the men working on the range. The assistant secretary of the South Australian Building Trades' Federation (Mr J. L. Cavanagh) sent telegrams of protest to the Government and said that unless the department changed its decision the federation would have no alternative but to withdraw labour from the range. Twelve hundred workmen, technicians and servicemen, are building the range and establishments. A labourer earns an average net wage of £9 to £lO weekly for a 48-hour week.