“BLUFF CALLED”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21899, 18 December 1945, Page 3

“BLUFF CALLED”

COMMUNIST HEADS

STRIKING UNIONS

PROMISE TO MINERS

CHANGES IN INDUSTRY (Special Australian Correspondent.) (10 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 18. The miners and seamen, having returned to. work, the strikers challenge to the national system or industrial arbitration has failed. The bluff of the Communist leaders responsible for the strike was called and the result shows that they do not represent the rank and file of the organisations they control. The strike failed because the people recognised the significence of the challenge and stood fast. As the Sydney Morning Herald says, it was not the Government of the Commonwealth but the people of New South Wales who really won this last fortnight the intense battle to keep native Australian democracy safe against the challenge of immigrant Communist totalitarianism. The Australian Labour Party has now openly and vigorously declared war on the Communist Party. The stocktaking shows that the strike threw out of work 550,000 people in New South Wales and thousands more in Victoria and South Australia.- It imposed hardships on the community usually suffered only through war and the damage it has done Will be evident for a long time. However, the general attitude is that all this will have been worth while if there is an end to lawlessness in key industries. The ironworkers and the seamen have gained nothing. The miners have gained promises on their five-year plan. Drastic Changes in Control

The ' Daily Telegraph’s political roundsman says the Miners’ Federation officials have been promised drastic changes in the control of the New South Wales coal industry next year. The correspondent adds: “This was one of the principal behind-the-scenes reasons for the change of front last week by the Miners’ Union in the strike. Earlier plans for Federal control had been discarded because of constitutional difficulties, but there is no constitutional bar to State control (90 per cent of Australia's coal is mined in New South Wales.’)

It is interesting to record that though New South Wales produces six-sevenths of Australia's black coal, this State has had the most severe domestic restrictions on cooking and lighting. Sydney people have spent thousands of pounds in buying emergency lighting and cooking appliances. Stores and shops have sold out of heaters and lamps and there is no prospect of getting more until power is available again for industry. "It’s an lil Wind—”

Sydney people also spent a lot of money on fuel for backyard cooking. According to trade spokesmen men’s clothing and many foods are now running short.

The president of the Retail Trades’ Association said the shortage in men’s clothing was fast developing into a tragedy. The proverb, “it’s an ill wind,” applied even in this paralysing strike.

Medical men and dietitians say that Sydney’s health would get a fillip because most people went to bed early as a result of the 9 p.m. home blackout and they ate more grills, more salads, more fruit and had to cut out cakes, pastry and heavy meals.