Oil stocks dwindle in Australia

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32976, 24 July 1972, Page 13

Oil stocks dwindle in Australia

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright » SYDNEY, July 23. An oil industry spokesman has forecast an acute shortage of petrol and oil supplies in Australia for six weeks—even if striking oil maintenance men return to work immediately.

All indications point to a protracted strike, after it he refusal yesterday by oil companies to meet the Australian Council of Trade Unions to discuss the dispute over the I week-end. The A.C.T.U. assumed con- !; trol of the dispute on Friday and immediately offered to talk with the companies. But the companies refused.

demanding a full resumption of work before talks begin—and even then only before the Federal Arbitration Commission. Traffic on Sydney roads is ! dwindling as motorists leave their cars at home to conserve precious supplies of fuel which, the oil industries spokesman said, would not be available in the city after i tonight. No supplies are being delivered to metropolitan and

[suburban petrol stations and all but three of Australia's 10 oil refineries are shut down. The strike. which has dragged on now for three .weeks, has begun to affect states not involved in the dispute, in which maintenance men in New South Wales. Victoria. Queensland and South Australia are striking for higher wages. Aviation fuel is running low also and might begin to run out in a few days, the spokesman said. TOLL ON LEADER Mr R. J. Hawke, aged 46, Australia’s leading trade unionist, collapsed from ner-

vous exhaustion on Friday after opening an art exhibition in Melbourne. His condition this morning was described as satisfactory. His wife said he had not been to bed for three days while trying to end the strike. Mr Hawke, president of the A.C.T.U. has been tipped as a future Labour Prime Minister of Australia.