N.S.W. MINERS’ STOPPAGE

Grey River Argus, 21 November 1944, Page 5

N.S.W. MINERS’ STOPPAGE

STEEL WORKERS AFFECTED Appeal for Coal Increase (Rce. 6.30) SYDNEY, Nov. 20 Hundreds of workers may soon De retrenched from the steer WOrns ot Broken Hill Proprietary Company, because of the present coal shortage. Announcing this .the Deputy Director of Manpower, (Mr. Bellemore) said that efforts would be made to find, temporary work for those discharged. A curtailment of steel production would affect many other industries. Important conferences on lagging coal production began in Canberra to-day. Federal and State Ministers, together with miners’ and miner owners’ representatives, attended. At these conferences it is expected that the Government will again refuse the miners’ request for a Federal pension because of their failure to obtain the coal quota. x . Th e quota was set by Mr. Curtin at seven million tons from all Australian mines for the second half of the year. The estimated shortage because of stoppages is about 400,000 tons. Because of th e coal shortage it ■is unlikely there will be any special Christmas holiday trains. Transport of starving stock from the drought areas is also being gravely hampered. The “Sydney Herald” this morningsaid: “To-day’s discussions on' 'coal will offer perhaps the last chance m the current year of averting the paralvsis of Australia’s war effort which threatens just when the full weight of our resources is needed to win a speedy victory.” “The Herald ’ in a leading article admits that the Government faces “a task of peculiar difficulty” in its effort to win more coal. It says that, if all parties are ready to place the national welfare above sectional interests, there is no reason why satisfactory production should not be restored. It adds:. “Matters are far too seiious to permit of a section of the miners continuing, at their pleasure, to refuse coal to the Government It the miners’ officials cannot bung home to them the gravity of then offence, then the Commonwealth must do so.” _____