N.S.W. MINERS WANT OWN COAL FIRSTAN EARLY HITCH

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1949, Page 5

N.S.W. MINERS WANT OWN COAL FIRST—AN EARLY HITCH

GOVERNMENT KEEPS FORCES READY (Rec 11.20) SYDNEY, Aug 17.

Three New South Villes coal mines were idle to-day. This was because of miners making a demand for the diversion of the first coal they won after the strike to the .•repl'enishment of their own backyard stocks for household requirements.

Press correspondents suggest that this extension of the dispute indicates that the militants are using it as an excuse to hinder plans to build up 1 the coal reserve. The Bellbird Colliery, which has not worked since Monday, is idle over a safety issue. Of 6715 tons of coal lost to-day, 3663 tons was lost through avoidable causes. The fcolliery proprietors are now advocating a disciplinary code so as

to eliminate a strike on an v trivial issue.

The troops who have been mining the Minmi open cuts, have been ordered to remain at Newcastle indefinitely, and a previous order to break camp has been cancelled. Advance parties have been recalled. A number of the police on strike duty at Newcastle were ready to leave for their home stations. They also will remain until the position is clarified. Emergency Act Being Repealed (Rec 11.10) CANBERRA, Aug 17. The Attorney-General, the Hon Dr. Evatt, today announced the repeal of the Emergency Coal Strike Act. under which' the funds of the unions were frozen, to prevent assistance being given to the coal strikers. He said that the repeal of the measure would not prejudice the actions that are pending under the Act. Dr. Evatt added that this statute was without precedent in the Legislative history of Australia,. but it was supported by the overwhelming majority of the people including a huge membership of the industrial and political Labour organisations. The industrial orpanisations, he said, must realise that, under the conditions of all employment, strikes and lock-outs were just as unjustifiable as was the use of force or of economic aggression in international affairs. —