AUSTRALIAN COAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN COAL

PRODUCTION PROSPECTS

UNEMPLOYMENT INEVITABLE

(Rec. 11.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 21.

Although more coal is likely to be produced this week than was originally estimated, industrial authorities fear that because of the lack of stocks unemployment in New South Wales will be very great until,.the end of January at the earliest. The coal miners begin their Christmas holidays this afternoon and will not return until January 7. By then it is believed the coal stocks will be exhausted. It is estimated that more than 500,000 persons lost their jobs when the coal strike forced the authorities to place drastic restrictions on the use, of .electricity and gas. Industrial leaders said it was difficult to-see how restrictions on industry could be lifted with prudence before about January 21. The State Government hopes that some of the most irksome domestic restrictions on the use of light and power may be modified soon, but a coal expert said there was no ground . for optimism about the prospects. The minimum target of 150,000 tons fixed by the coal authorities as this week’s production is likely to be greatly exceeded. The Miners’ Federation officials now estimate that production will be between .175,000 and 180,000 tons.

STEELWORKS DISPUTE.

SYDNEY, December 20.

The State Industrial Commission met to-day to give further consideration to an appeal by Mr. D. Parker, the shop delegate whose dismissal from the Australian Iron and Steel Works caused the ironworkers’ strike in New South Wales. Mr. Parker is appealing against the determination of Mr. Justice Cantor upholding the right of the firm to dismiss him for not carrying out what the firm claimed was a reasonable order. The President (Mr. Justice Taylor) to-day"referred to the publication of a report that suggestions were made privately by the commission yesterday to end the steelworks strike. Mr. Justice Taylor said: “The publication by the Press of the conference discussions has seriously embarrassed the commission in this matter, and has rendered very remote the prospects of onicliation between parties. It is obvious that if such matters are disclosed to the Press the functions of the commission in conciliation will be gravely hampered in future. The statement which has been published is misleading. It is not a fair or accurate account of what transpned, and we deplore its publication.”

RUSH ON RAILWAYS.

(Rec. 11.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 21. Ten thousand people failed to get on trains leaving the Central Railway Station, last night, for country holiday resorts. The 16 trains which left carried 8000 passengers. Extra were sent to control the crowas, but the people lined the platforms ten deep waiting for trains to be shunted in and even before they stopped people scrambled through windows to get seats. (The train services to the country have been severely curtailed because of the coal shortage.)

INTER-STATE AIRLINES.

(Rec. 11.15 a.m.) CANBERRA, December 21. The Federal Government intended to go ahead with its plan to establish a Commonwealth Inter-State airline. This decision has been made in spite of a High Court judgment that parts of the Airlines Act are invalid. A Government spokesman said: We s “all establish our own airline though the date of its inauguration has not yet been fixed.” , It is believed that the Government will use the control of airmail subsidies and the ownership of aerodromes and navigational facilities to ensure that the Government airline is able to compete on a favourable basis with private services.

YOUNGER DEFENCE FORCE

(Rec. 11.15 a.m.) CANBERRA, December 21. Older men are to be retired from Australia’s post-war Army and Air Force to make way for young men who have distinguished themselves in the second World War. This was announced by Mr. Chifley in a review of the progress made by the Government’s advisers on the technical planning of post-war defence. Mr. Chifley said: “The experience of the last six years demonstrated that the art of war had undergone great changes. It is, therefore, important that in the post-war development of our forces, younger men who have distinguished themselves in the new war methods should have an effective voice.” . Mr. Chifley added that Australia s post-war Navy, Army, and Air Force will be maintained at a level which would allow quick expansion to a maximum force in wartime.

FLYING BOAT SALVAGED.

BRISBANE, December 20.

An R.A.A.F. flying boat which was forced down south of Bundaberg was taken in tow. by a rescue launch early to-day and is expected to reach Bundaberg this afternoon. The crew and passengers escaped injury and the plane is undamaged. The seas quietened during the night but were still rough when the tow began. By wireless during the night the pilot of the flying boat said the machine was in no immediate danger and that it was being kept afloat by taxi-ing on the one engine still functioning.

(Rec. 11.15 a.m.) BRISBANE, December 21. The flying-boat that was forced down at sea, 40 miles south of Bundaberg, was towed back to Bundaberg last evening. The towline broke twice during the tow and the rescue launch finally attached a line to the flying-boat’s tail and towed it in tail first. On board the flying-boat were 36 men, mostly R.A.A.F., R.A.N., and A.I.F. long-service troops returning to their homes in southern States.