N.S.W. COAL SHORTAGE

Grey River Argus, 16 May 1946, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL SHORTAGE

STATE CONTROL QUESTION SYDNEY, May 15. Federal and State members of Parliament will, next Thursday, discuss the Miners’ Federation plans for uniform State control of the industry. Curtailment of coal supplies because of disputes caused the Railways Department to cancel all special steam trains. Among those cancelled were six to have run to Junee for the English Rugby League team’s match there on May 22, and two for the Wollongong match on June 20. If coal stocks continue to shrink the department will cut passenger services and reduce sleeping accommodation. “Unless the inflow of coal is accelerated soon iron and steel production will again be seriously retarded,” said the manager of the Broken Hill Proprietary (Mr A. K. Butler). He said that the employment of 1000 workmen in the steel works, foundries and engineering plants throughout Australia was threatened by the shortage and that in the last seven weeks the coal reserves held by the proprietary had fallen by 37,000 tons. Stocks were inadequate to allow for the slightest flexibility.