N.S.W. MINERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1944, Page 6

N.S.W. MINERS

THE CHRISTMAS BREAK

(Special P.A. Correspondent.) Rec. 1 p.mi SYDNEY, December 6. Miners' lodges throughout New South Wales have voted against cutting their Christmas holidays from 16 to 10 days. Last week the Federal Government issued national security regulations reducing the miners' normal Christmas break from 16 to 10 days. The "Sydney Morning Herald's" industrial correspondent says: "It is considered certain that many miners will defy the Government's order. Lodges in the north and south of the State are heavily in favour of a long holiday period, while the miners in the western district, who have already achieved a record output for the year, are evenly divided on the question. The Government and transport officials fear that if the miners defy the Government arid take the full 16 days there will be a big cut in the heavy metals output and in transport services early in the New Year. A month ago tile Acting Prime Minister. Mr. Forde, warned that jf coal production dropped, the. heavy. industries would ■have to close. If the miners take full leave at Christmas, the loss of coal for the six production days will be 275,000 tons. If the holidays are limited to 0.0 days, only three normal production days will be lost for 138,000 tons of coal.

After several days almost free from stoppages, five mines, employing 1200 men and producing nearly 4000 tons of coal a day, were idle yesterday. Two of the strikes were protests against the garnisheeing by the Crown of the wages of seven men for nonpayment of fines for absenteeism.