MINE TAKEN OVER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21354, 15 March 1944, Page 4

MINE TAKEN OVER

N.S.W. STORM CENTRE STRIKE NOW ENDED MEN CALLED FOR ARMY (By TcleKi-aph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 15. Watched by a small group of Government and union officials, the Australian flag was hoisted to the‘poppethead of 4 the Coalcliff colliery yesterday morning. It marked the taking over by t|ie Commonwealth Government of the CoalclilTe colliery, the storm centre of the southern New South Wales miners’ strike, which ended yesterday. ' Only two mines in the State were not working yesterday. Coalclifi’ is the first mine to be taken over by the Government under the recent Coal Act.

' “This ig an' historic occasion in the story of the coal industry of Australia,” said the Commonwealh Coal Commissioner, Mr.' Norman' Mighell, addressing the men. The flag-hoising ceremony took place near the spot where Bass and Flinders first discovered coal in Australia. The miners’ strike Tasted three weeks, during which more than ' 200,000 tons of coal are estimated to have been lost. Because of their defiance of‘earlier orders to return to work, 490 young miners were called up for the Australian Army. Many of these men had been trying to secure release from the mines in order to enlist and the great majority 'accepted then-call-up cheerfully.