AUSTRALIAN MINES

Grey River Argus, 4 July 1944, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN MINES

NEED OF LARGER OUTPUT SYDNEY. Julv 3. The Federal Government will establish other industries on the coalfields areas after the war, said Mr Forde, addressing the miners. The establishment of secon/dary industries on the fields would give the miners a choice of employment as well as a greater sense of security. Mr Forde also promised action to modernise the mines, including underground transport, better lighting, abolition of the dust menace, as well as better housing. Continuing his appeals for increased output. Mr Forde told the men 'that the present production figures ind’eates that Australia’s coal output this year would be even lower than last year, which was 800,000 tons lower than in 1942. Despite the fact that 350 more men were employed in the industry than during the” peak production period, coal reserves were now less than those of a~ year ago. Unless the coal output were stepped up, war industries wouid be slowed down, with the rationing of gas and transport services. Following earlier addresses bv Mr Forde there has been a substant'cl reduction in mine stoppages in the a r eus which he visited