MINERS’ GAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1946, Page 7

MINERS’ GAIN

AUSTRALIAN DISPUTES

GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CONTROL INDUSTRY STRIKE TACTICS DROPPED (Rec. noon) SYDNEY, May 30. The Central Council of the Miners’ Federation will be asked to-day to postpone its decision on the recommendations for an immediate general coal strike until the Cabinet meets on June 4. The general president of the Federation, Mr. H. Wells, said that Commonwealth Government plans for the long-range control of thd industry had resulted from the talks between the Prime Minister, Mr. Chifley, and the miners’ leaders in Canberra. During these discussions a way had been found within the wage-pegging regulations to meet the miners’ claim for increased pay to certain contract workers. This was the issue which led to the recommendation from three New South Wales districts that the Central' Council should call a general strike. The Cabinet will shortly draft a, bill to establish Commonwealth con-; trol of the coal industry. The pro- ■ posal aims to prevent New Southl Wales, which produces 75 per cent. | Of Australia’s coal, from gaining any | industrial advantage over the States i which produce little or no coal. The | conference of the Federal Labour j members and Victorian State Minis- j ters in Melbourne agreed to press for j the equitable distribution of coal be- I tween the States. j

Meanwhile, the New South Wales miners, happy at the prospect of obtaining a quick and favourable settlement of all their disputes, have established a post-war record by producing more than 141,000 tons of coal in three working days.' On all the fields only 9000 tons of production has been lost since Monday and there have been fewer than half a dozen stoppages through disputes. Even so, one mine lost 300 tons because the men knocked off to attend a funeral.