NEW SOUTH WALES GOAL

Evening Star, Issue 25620, 22 October 1945, Page 6

NEW SOUTH WALES GOAL

ACQUISITION AND DISTRIBUTION FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S FIVE-YEAR PLAN SYDNEY, October 21. Commonwealth acquisition and distribution of all New South’Wales coalfor at least five years will be recommended to the Federal and State Cabinets respectively bv the Prime Minister, Mr J. B. Chifley, and the Premier of New South Wales, Mr W. J. McKell. The central executive of the Miners’ Federation announced that this key point in the miners’ “ five years’ peace plan” had been accepted _in principle at the coal talks held in Sydney during the week. It has been agreed that when both Governments accepted the proposal the Federal Government would repeal the Commonwealth war-time coal legislation and leave matters of production and safety in this State to the New South Wales Government. It was also agreed that security of employment for five years would be a condition of the new control, with adequate provisions to meet the risk of unemployment arising from the lessening of production or increased mechanisation.

In a joint'statement Mr Chifley, the Minister of Supply (Mr W. P. Ashley), and Mr McKell said they had discussed a scheme of control’ I 'with the Miners’ Federation representatives. Mr Chifley had indicated that his Government was prepared to examine the legal questions involved in an arrangement to acquire and distribute New South Wales coal and guarantee of continuity of employment for workers in the industry.

Mr Chifley and Mr Ashley said they wove satisfied sueh a scheme “ could prove of benefit to the industry, improve the output of coal, provide muchneeded stability with a ready market at reasonable prices for coal produced in New South Wales; and guarantee certain employment to all men in the industry.” The coal miners decline to comment on the position.