RATIONING IN N.S. WALES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1945, Page 5

RATIONING IN N.S. WALES

STRIKE CONSEQUENCES SETTLEMENT PREDICTED SYDNEY, December 10. Faced with the gravest coal shortage in the history of New South Wales, the State Cabinet to-day decided to impose gas and electricity rationing of unprecedented severity. The rationing will have almost the effect of a curfew. The Minister of Local Government (Mr. Cahill) announced that the supply authorities had recommended the limiting- of householders to one hot meal a day, bringing about a domestic black-out after 9 p.m., with only one light allowed in the home until 9 p.m. Other recommendations include a ban on all electrical appliances, except refrigerators, the limiting of radios to one hour a day, the elimination of free and weekly newspapers, and a 50 per cent, cut in the normal, gas and electricity consumption. The supply authorities had also recommended that the Cabinet should appoint a committee to control the coal resources of all supply authorities concerned with electricity, gas and traction. The effect of this will be that further tram and train restrictions will be imposed. Meanwhile the Federal Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Holloway) said in Melbourne to-day that he believed there would be a quick ending to the strikes, and that the terms the Australasian Council of Trade Unions would submit to the Prime Minister (Mr. Chifley) to-mor-row would be satisfactory to the Broken Hill Proprietary and the unions. After the union, conference with Mr. Chifley in Canberra to-morrow, a conference with the directorate of the Broken Hill Proprietary is expected to be held on Wednesday, but even should a settlement be-reached then, it is unlikely that the miners will resume work before next Monday. LIGHTING AND TRANSPORT No relaxation of the lighting and transport cuts can be expected before the New Year. A full resumption of work by the miners next Monday would mean an output of 250,000 tons of coal to December 21, when the miners’ 16 days’ holidays will start. The output will be nothing like this, however, as only about 50 per cent, of the miners are likely to resume. The main issue in the latest terms of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions which will be discussed with Mr. Chifley to-morrow is the recognition by the Broken Hill Proprietary of the officials and. delegates of the Ironworkers’ Association simultaneously with the union applying for reregistration with the Industrial Commission. The Broken Hill Proprietary has indicated, that it is prepared to recognise shop delegates when re-reg-istration is sought and representatives of the union when it is granted. Feeling in Canberra is that Mr. Chifley is unlikely to take the initiative in any approach to the Broken Hill Proprietary, but may be prepared to advise the Australasian Council of Trade Unions or the strike leaders. So far, about 400,000 workers have been thrown out of work, and 85 percent. of New South Wales industry is idle. With bunker stocks almost exhausted, the large fleet of Australian coal burning steamers is steadily becoming idle. At least four vessels are laid up at Sydney through lack of coal, and ships at sea are steaming at reduced speed to eke out their dwindling stocks. By the end of this week, it is feared that the big fleet will be idle. The Union Company’s steamer Kaikorai is loading general cargo for New Zealand at Sydney, but it is being done hopefully, for to-day her bunkers are nearly empty, and cannot be replenished. HALF-MILLION UNEMPLOYED DRASTIC RESTRICTIONS (Rec. Noon) SYDNEY, December 11. The most drastic restrictions on use of power ever applied in New South Wales came into effect at midnight last night. The restrictions which were approved by the Executive Council because of the desperate coal shortage, are expected to bring industrial, commercial' and community activities almost to a standstill. The employers’ spokesman stated that by to-morrow, half a million people will be without jobs. The new gas and electricity cuts provide that only one hot meal can be prepared in 24 hours, and water can be heated only in one period each day. No lighting after 9 p.m., with one light permitted until 9 p.m. All electric appliances except refrigerators are banned. No trams will run in Sydney and Newcastle from 2 p.m. on Saturday until Monday morning. Rail services will be more severely cut. Radio stations will broadcast for one hour only each day —between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. There will be no race broadcasts. Hospitals may use power for the care of sick only. Laundry can only be done at hospitals. No special provision is made for power for baby clinics, rest rooms, day nurseries or public chanties Doctors and dentists can use power only for the treatment of sick and urgent cases. Daily newspapers are allowed to use 50 per cent of normal power supplies. They will use auxiliary plants. The use of power or gas is forbidden for all other journals. There is to be a 50 per cent reduction in the use of lifts and escalators. Street lighting will be cut to one hour daily. No lights are permitted in churches or on wharves. Announcing the new restrictions, the Minister of Local Govei nment (Mr. Cahill) said they were necessary to maintain the most essential cervices. “These additional restrictions would not have been imposed so early if the public had faithfully observed the regulations which came into force last Thursday. It is abundantly clear that notwithstanding the severe penalties householders and some business people have not observed the restrictions and the expected saving in coal consumption has not been achieved.” The effect of the coal shortage is being FELT IN ALL STATES. In South Australia, more than 50,000 workers are already idle. Use of gas in homes there is now restricted to two periods of one and a half hours each daily. Victorian industries are approaching a critical stage as coal supplies dwindle, despite the use of substitute fuels. From to-morrow gas may be used in Melbourne only two hours daily. So ■ far the dismissals in Victoria have not been great, but manufacturers say the number of unemployed in the metal trades will increase to / 70,000 by Christmas. Tile factories and brick kilns will be forced to close, by Christmas. To-day, in Canberra, Mr. Chifley

will meet the union leaders, who will place before him the terms of proposals by the full executive of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions for settlement of the industrial .crisis. Mr. Chifley has declined to make any comment. It is stated in Government quarters that he was waiting to hear what the A.C.T.U. delegation has to say before expressing any opinion on the merits of the proposed settlement terms. The Industrial Commission has made an order permitting employers to stand down without pay employees rendered idle by the failure of coal, coke, gas, or electricity supplies. The order, which is effective from last Thursday, will remain in operation until a fortnight after the repeal of power and gas rationing regulations. Mr. Justice Canton said that under the order, annual holidays and other benefits dependent on the continuity of employment would not be affected, where the employees were stood down. BENNETT INQUIRY. MELBOURNE, December 10, A document setting out the recollections of General Percival (the British G.0.C.) concerning the Singapore surrender instrument was. tendered to-day at the resumption- of the inquiry into the escape of LieutenantGeneril Gordon Bennett, by Mr. W. R. Dovey, K.C., who is assisting the Commissioner. It was explained that no copy of the surrender document was made available to General Percival after it had been signed by him and General Yamqshita, the Japanese commander. General Percival never saw the document again. Mr. Dovey said that the actual surrender terms could not be recorded accurately, but the document which he was tendering to the Commission set out General Percival’s recollections of its terms. Dated October 18, 1945, it was prepared by General Percival after a request from Australia to the British War Office. Its principal terms were: (1) the unconditional surrender of all forces; (2) hostilities .. were to cease at 8.30 p.m. on February 15; (3) the troops were to remain in position pending further orders; (4) all weapons, equipment, and docu- " ments were to be handed over; and (5) to prevent looting, a force of 1000 British troops was to be left temporarily in the Singapore town area. The Commissioner (Mr. Justice Ligert Wood) said that he would admit the document, and would confer on the right of Mr. B. Clancy, K.C. (who is appearing for General Bennett) to criticise its contents. To-day was the tenth day of the inquiry, which is expected to end about Thursday.