ANARCHIC STATE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21801, 25 August 1945, Page 6

ANARCHIC STATE

COALFIELDS WORK TRIVIAL N.S.W. STRIKES ' RATIONING THREATENED SYDNEY, Aug. 24. Severe rationing is threatened in all essential industries because, of stoppages on the coalfields, said the Minister of Supply, Senator Ashley. He added that althougn _ne had met every “reasonable request” of the industry stoppages on the coalfields continued to increase and a state ol anarchy” existed resulting in Australia being held to ransom. Senator Ashley said that the reduction of services by the railways announced on Wednesday was only the first evidence of similar action which would probably have to be taken by many other services throughout Australia. The position in other States dependent on New South Wales supplies oi coal was perhaps a little worse than of that State, Senator Ashley announced. He had asked the coal commissioner, Mr. H. Mighell, to take whatever action he thought fit to deal with trivial Stoopages. “The time has now arrived to decide whether Australia’s whole rehabilitation programme is to be whittled down because of -unreasonable and unjustifiable coal-mine stoppages,” he said. “1 know there are two sides to the disputes on the coalfields, but I want to emphasise that many of the most recent stoppages appear to have been completely unjustified,” said Senator Ashley. Prosecutions have been launched against the 25 miners who staged a stay-in strike at Rhondda colliery.”