COAL BILL ENDUED

Evening Star, Issue 25894, 11 September 1946, Page 7

COAL BILL ENDUED

OPPOSITION AMENDMENTS CARRIED BATTLE IN N.S.W. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LABOUR MAY BE FORCED TO DROP ISSUE (Ree. 11.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 11. Dramatic scenes marked the proceedings in the Legislative Council of. New South Wales last night, when the Government was defeated on amendments to the Coal Industry Bill, which the Government may treat as vital to the whole Bill. Before the amendments were carried a prominent Minister said that if it were substantially interfered with the Government would not proceed with the Bill. Last night ended a week of manoeuvring, in which the Government attempted to induce members of the other side to support the Bill, and the Opposition rallied its full strength. The Opposition was assured of a majority when Sir Henry Manning left

hospital, and took his place in the House. With a margin of two votes the Opposition attacked strongly, and by 1.45 a.m. to-day had defeated the Government eight times. The Council sat until 3.10 a.m. The Bill, which had passed the Lower House unaltered, was attacked during the second reading iu the Council. It is substantially the same as that passed by the Federal Parliament, and provides for joint Commonwealth and State control of the coal industry. Important amendments that the Opposition carried last night were a deletion of a clause extending coal control to by-products and derivatives; the exemption of any mine, the output of which was used mainly for industries ancillary to the ownership of the mine; deletion of a clause empowering the Prime Minister or the New South Wales Premier to direct the policy of the Coal Board, and the insertion of a provision that mine owners would not bear financial losses incurred by the Coal Board in its operation of the mines. All the amendments were carried by 28 votes to 26. As the Opposition has indicated that it will continue to force the amendments, Labour is faced with the alternative of dropping the Bill temporarily or of asking the Federal Government if it will accept an amended Bill.