AUSTRALIAN MINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN MINES

GENERAL STRIKE STARTED ' MR. CHIFLEY’S POLICY SYDNEY, December 4. Opinion at the Sydney-Trades Hall to-day was divided as to the prospects of the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley), reaching a solution of the steelmining and shipping strikes at his conference with the Union leaders tb-morrow at Canberra. Official circles in Canberra, however, have emphasised that Mr Chifley has not changed his policy of non-interven-tion, and that the Prime Minister has made no promises. All the coal mines were idle today. The New South Wales coal industry has been more gravely dislocated than for many years. To-day’s stoppage on the coalfields of the State was so complete that even mines whose employees are not members of the Miners’ Union were on strike. The steel dispute thus has already thrown 36,000 people out of work. The Commonwealth Coal Commissioner, Mr Mighell, said to-day that, even if the miners were to resume work to-morrow, it would be impossible to maintain essential services—“let alone industry.” The secretary of the Metal Trades Employers’ Association, Mr McDonald, stated that steel supplies would not return to normal until at least 12 months after this strike ended. Unless there is an early settlement, half a million others will be affected. TRANSPORT CUTS SYDNEY, December 4. Drastic cuts in all of the New South Wales train services were announced to-day by the Railway Commissioner, Mr T. Hartigan. Cancelled immediately were all of the special, sporting, and weeki-end tourist trains. Country trains and goods traffic will also be greatly reduced. Sydney’s electric train services during the off-peak periods will run only at half-hourly intervals. The State Government is now planning to operate an emergency transport service in the metropolis, if the power for the trams fails. Forty vessels are already tied up or will be tied up very soon by the seamen’s decision not to man ships carrying New South Wales coal or products of the Broken Hill Proprietary and Australian Iron Steel Limited. Many other vessels will be held up in ports in all States as stocks of bunker coal become exhausted. Severe cuts in railway services and a somewhat less drastic reduction of tramway services are being worked out in South Australia. It is estimated that the closing of industry in Adelaide will mean unemployment for 50,000 men. IRONWORKERS’ SPLIT

SYDNEY, December 4. The ironworkers’ union ordered a 24-hour stoppage to-day, but half of the 30,000 Sydney Metropolitan members of the Union are expected to defy the direction. Thousands of the ironworkers today defied the National Council of their Union, and they refused to take part in a 24-hour stoppage which the Council called for. This refusal is an indication that the rank and file feel, resentment at being involved in the turmoil by their leaders, and that the resentment is growing. The Newcastle Branch of the Ironworkers’ Association, last night, recommended that the union should seek re-registration in the State Arbitration Court. The union was de-registered before the strikes at Port Kembla and Newcastle began. When these disputes arose the Broken Mill Proprietary refused to negotiate with the union because it was dere Even e if a settlement is reached this week, it is not likely that the seamen, miners or steelworkers will resume work before Monday. GAS AND ELECTRICITY SYDNEY, December 4. The immediate introduction of gas and electricity rationing in New South Wales on a drastic scale, beginning from to-morrow, was to-day recommended to Minister for Labour and Industry (Mr Cahill) by the supply authorities. Mr Cahill said: “If there has to be rationing, and it appears inevitable, then ample notice should be given to all employees.” It is learned that the proposals for the rationing of gas and electricity would mean a cut of more than 50 per cent, on the existing conof gas and electricity rationing is inevitable m Sydney. Drastic cuts in New Sou * h railways will be announced to-day. Tram and ferry services will be curtailed. If country trains cease, Sydney will be without meat. Milk supplies will be cut to about one quarter and there will be shortages of vegerationing has been introduced in Melbourne, and is more severe than that imposed two months ago, and the Chief Secretary, Mi Slatei, said that without a large measure of public co-operation a complete cessation of gas supplies may occur. WIDESPREAD UNEMPLOYMENT. ORDEALS FOR HOUSEWIVES. (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 5. Manv thousands more workers will be thrown out of employment as the result of the restrictions imposed on the use of gas and electricity. The restrictions, which will operate from midnight to-night, will affect homes, warehouses, shops, factories, theaties, public halls, and most business offices. The manufacture of a wide range ot non-essential goods will be prohibited All but essential industry will be' brought to a standstill. Housewives will suffer similar burdens io those resulting from the recent Bunnerong strike. The use of gas and electricity for cooking may be made only between prescribed hours. All rail ,and tram services will be cue from to-morrow. Tram services will be reduced by 20 per cent. Hundreds of motor-trucks will bring emergency food supplies to Sydney if the coal strike continues. The road transport pool established during the war has agreed with the State Government to organise a road service for this purpose. It is estimated that power rationing / will throw moie than 300 000 New South Wales workers out’ of jobs. Between 80,000 and 90,000 workers in metal trades alone will lose jobs immediately, and nearly a quarter of a million more will be unemployed within a week. UNION STATEMENTS.

The President of the Miners’ Federation (H. Wells) stated that the central executive has decided not to extend the miners’ strike to other

States yet, in view of the conference to be held at Canberra this afternoon. No decision would be made until the Canberra talks had concluded. , , Union leaders involved in the steei, coal, and shipping strikes believe a settlement formula will emerge from the conference to-day with Mr. Chitley, but opinion in well-informed Federal quarters is that there is no possibility of Mr. Chifiey giving way on any vital issue. Canberra belief is that undue importance has been attached in Sydney to the fact that Mr. Chifley agreed to receive a delegation organised by the Australasian Council of Trade Unions. Since taking the Prime Ministership, Mr. Chifley has had his door almost continually open to representations of major sections of the community who claimed they had a case to state on a particular question with which the Government was concerned. Numbers of these deputations have gone away without any satisfaction except that of a courteous hearing. In the present dispute itself, Mr. Chifley has already shown that the reception of the delegation does not mean that he is willing to concur with any strike settlement proposals that the deputation might make.