AUSTRALIAN COAL MINERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 September 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN COAL MINERS

MINISTER’S CHALLENGE DOUBTFUL ARBITRATION (Recd. Noon) CANBERRA, Sept. 14. The Commonwealth Government may soon abandon all war-time control over the coal industry and is likely to be hurried in this action, if petty stoppages on coalfields continue. It is understood that the Minister o£ Supply (Senator Ashley), who sharply rebuked the miners, is making a submission to a full Cabinet which will involve the handing back to the States all control over coal. In some Government quarters the position is believed to have arisen where Commonwealth control is benefiting only the miners, who refuse to give the Government the adequate production which the control was instituted to secure. Because of the low state of present stocks and the gap which will be caused in production at the end of the year by the miners’ Christmas holidays, it is understood that plans are being worked out now lor possible drastic rationing in light’ and power liter in the year. Senator Ashley, in a statement issued last night, challenged the miners and the Miners’ Federation leaders to explain how the existing unrest on the coalfields fitted in “with their alleged arbitration policy.” Senator Ashley added: “It’s not the slightest use conventions or officials talking about acceptance of arbitration when individual mines refuse to abide by the decisions of the present industrial authorities, composed as they are, of practical and experienced men, drawn from the ranks of the miners themselves.” Half-a-dozen or more mines have been idle every day since September 4. POWER-HOUSE STRIKERS SYDNEY, September 13. If the 600 dismissed Bunnerong power house strikers are replaced by new labour, as is intended by the Sydney County Council, an almost complete dislocation of Sydney industries for at least one day will result. Now in its eleventh day, the Bunnerong dispute has reached a deadlock, both the county council and the men having refused to compromise. The Federated Enginedrivers’ and Firemen’s Union has decided that if “free labour” is engaged mass meetings will be called on all coalfields, 'and 24-hour stop work meetings will be held in all industries in which .members are employed. The county council, having given notices of dismissal to the strikers, for a new staff last Monday and applications close to-morrow. A one-day stoppage on the coalfields would lose roughly 50,000 tons of coal and be disastrous to the already depleted Stocks.

WAR EXPENDITURE. (Reed. 12.35 pan.) CANBERRA, Sept. 14. The Government’s estimated war expenditure of 360 million pounds for a substantially non-war year was an astonishing figure, said the leader of the Opposition (Mr. Menzies) resuming the debate on the Budget, in the House of Representatives. Mr. Menzies instituted what was virtually a motion of censure when he moved that the first item in the estimates be reduced by one pound as an instruction to the Government to redraft the Budget. He said that the Government was camouflaging excessive spending with pleas of wartime necessity. Nothing had been said by the Government to satisfy the public that the expenditure allegedly for war purposes was in fact being reduced in accordance with the true demands for war purposes. . Mr. Menzies contended that the revenue justified a much greater reduction in ’income tax than the provision of 12£ per cent, for a full year or per cent for this year. GOVT. HOUSES.

CANBERRA, Sept. 14. Tenants of houses to be built under’ the Commonwealth Government scheme will pay not more than one-j fifth of the family income in rent! Details of the scheme to providß homes at low rentals for low incorrß groups are contained in a -Bill intr® duced in the House of Represent® fives. The Bill authorises the monwealth to enter into with the State Governments. The Minister of Post-War struction (Mr Dedman) said the tai for the building dcr the agreement would be ed by Commonwealth borrowing®® Commonwealth Government made advances to States repa®.< with interest at the same rate long term Commonwealth last raised or being raised. monwealth would bear any losses incurred and the H||||| two-fifths. LIBERAL PARTY. MH CANBERRA, Septembe® Following the abolition ol visory War Council, Messrs ® Hughes and J. A. Spender. ®ggp of Parliament, to-day became be-rs of the Parliamentary I® Party. They were both the Liberal Party’s predecessor Parliament, the United Aus® Party, for belonging to the Cc® in defiance of the party instruc®' given early last year. The leader of the party, Menzies, expressed satisfaction completing of the unity in the liamentary ranks—a unity which already been expressed in the torates by the successful of the Liberal Party of Australia® ail six States. ®