AUSTRALIAN MINERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 October 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN MINERS

, UNIONS’ DISCIPLINE PLANS CODE AGAINST STRIKES (Rec. 11.40 a^^ )NE y > o c tqber 25. Aggregate meetings of-miners, the first to be held next Sunday, will consider the new policy formulated at the recent convention of the Miners Federation, and proposals for a new disciplinary code«for all members. The code provides penalties for unauthorised strikes and empowers the Miners’ Federation to expel members for repeated disruption. The aggregate meeting will be asked to apply the disciplinary code in its entirety, in every district, provided the Governments are prepared to leave discipline to the union and to enforce the Coal Mines’ Regulations Act on all colliery owners. • A preamble to the code tells miners that disciplinary action has cost the Federation thousands of pounds, and has weakened its fighting strength. It adds: “The need for discipline m all walks of life is recognised by all responsible people. This is true of miners equally with any. other section. The history of our industry, however, the hurts, losses, hatreds and frustration, which have been so much a ■feature of our lives, and the absolute instability occasioned by owners’ cutthroats and wildcat attitude, has born in us a resentment and willingness to fight the boss on any and every occasion. The coal-owner .we must fight to win better conditions in the pit and improve living standards, but he must be fought sensibly and by the union as a whole —not by individual members or lodges, pursuing a policy in conflict with the Federation.” The code provides that no stoppages, except where safety is concerned, should fake place at any time without the endorsement of the district committees or the executive. The miners have’chosen Sunday for their meetings to avoid a loss of coal production.

N.S. WALES BUDGET RECORD EDUCATION VOTE (Rec. 11.30 a.m.)" SYDNEY, Oct. 25. A feature of the State Budget announced in the Legislative Assembly last night by the Premier (Mr MeKell) is a record vote of £6,876,000 for education. This is the greatest amount spent on education in one year by any Australian State. The Budget also provides for improved transport services and rural electrification. . J For 1945-46 consolidated receipts are expected to total £31,244,000 and expenditure is estimated at £31,240,000. “National isolation spells national disaster,” said Mr McKell in his Budget speech. “We are learning that prosperity and high employment in any country depend largely on world prosperity.” Economic jpolicy in the post-war reconstruction period would depend largely on whether the world was to enter a period of true coconstruction and advancement, or merely to revert to pre-war conditions of unemployment and failure to develop resources, recurring trade depression, harmful restrictions on the flow of world trade, and wasteful policies of self-sufficiency. Mr McKell said that one of the most striking features,, he had observed while visiting Britain, Canada and the United States was the universal recognition of the need for world co-operation.