N.S.W. MINERS’ DEMANDS

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1944, Page 7

N.S.W. MINERS’ DEMANDS

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL

CANBERRA, Nov. 29 Attempts by the Miners’ Federation to persuade the Commonwealth Government to abstain from prosecuting striking and absentee miners on th € claim that the Federation could enforce its own discipline over these men, has been rejected by the Federal Cabinet. This has been announced by the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. Forde) who also said that the Government would issue a national security order limiting the miners’ Christmas holidays to ten days. Previously it had been announced that the miners were entitled to sixteen days’ Christmas holidays, but because of th e .coal shortage they had been asked to make a voluntary reduction to ten days. While the majority of the miners were prepared to do this, workers at certain collieries voted for the maximum period. Cabinet has also refused to accede to the miners’ request that the Government should take over -certain mines on the grounds that increased production would not result from Government control. A decision has been deferred on the introduction ot the Federal Pensions scheme for miners, pending actuarial investigation of the existing New South Wales State pensions scheme.