AUST. OPEN-CUT COAL OUTPUT TO BE EXPANDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23024, 15 August 1949, Page 5

AUST. OPEN-CUT COAL OUTPUT TO BE EXPANDED

(10 a.m.) CANBERRA, Aug. 15. Plans to develop open-cut mining in Australia were revealed last night by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. B. Chifley, in his weekly broadcast to the nation.

I-Ie said the Joint Coal Board would push on with every assistance from the Government with short-term and longterm programmes to expand open-cut mining.

In its short-term programme in an effort to increase production immediately, the board would give attention to obvious bottlenecks retarding production in the existing mines and concentrate on expansion of open-cut production.

Intensive prospecting and drilling carried out by the board during the last 12 months revealed a definite reserve of 35.000,000 tons of commercial quality coal, with a reasonable assurance of 50,000,000 tons in sight. Up to 5,000,000 Tons a Year The board had placed an order overseas for heavy earth-moving equipment. The plant eventually available for open-cut mining would be capable of producing 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 tons of coal yearly. . The Prime Minister said that in its long-term plans for the underground mines, the board contemplated complete mechanisation. For this £2,000,000 worth of plant was ordered locally and overseas, and much of it had now arrived. Much more plant would be required to complete the programme, but that now coming to hand would increase the underground production from the present dav figure of 56,000 tons daily to nearly 70,000 tons daily. “Australia’s future, her expansion and development depends largely on ample supplies of coal,” he said. “I say to the Miners’ Federation they have now learned what the disruptive tactics of the Communist section of their leaders can mean. Must Eliminate Red Influence

“It is in the hands of the rank and file of the federation to rid themselves of this influence.

‘The Joint Coal Board will continue with its plans for improvement of the living conditions in the mining communities.

“A survey of the industry shows it is undermanned to the extent of 1800 men and boys. The housing difficulty is primarily responsible for this manpower shortage and the Government is considering giving the coal industry a higher priority for housing material. '“A further 1800 men in the industry would give another 1,500,000 tons of coal yearly.”