COAL STRIKE SPREADING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 226, 23 August 1945, Page 5

COAL STRIKE SPREADING

MINERS STILL UNDERGROUND. SYDNEY, Aug. 22. Miners from two more pits have gone on strike in sympathy with the “stayin” strikers at the Rhondda colliery. Approximately 1000 men are now idle at six mines for a daily loss of 3000 tons of coal. r J. lig strikers staged d march on the Rhondda pit today. The “stay-in” strikers have now been underground more than 50 hours, hood is being sent down every four hours and hot tea every two hours. Blankets and warm clothing have ulso been sent down the pit. Seven other mines are idle for other reasons in the north and south of New South Wales today, the total loss of coal for the day being 10,000 tons. Train services, both passenger and goods, are to be cut owing to the serious decrease in coni stocks. . The Railway Commissioner (Mr Hartigan), in announcing this, said he was very reluctant to make cuts, but the coal position left him no other course. The reductions would apply to goods traffic from Monday next and passenger traffic during the following week. Only one express train would run between Sydney and Melbourne and one between Sydney and Brisbane. Sleeping cars would bo withdrawn from all trains. The Commonwealth Coal Commissioner (Mr Mighell) said the coal position was going from bad to worse and between now and Christmas industry generally would have to be curtailed. Mr Mighell said the housing programme depended largely on an ample supply of coal and added: “Doubtless the housing authorities will determine whether building materials already in short supply are to be made available to build new and better bathrooms for miners or whether the same materials are to be used to build houses for people who have neither houses nor bathrooms.” The strike at the Rhondda colliery is over a demand for a new bathroom which is nearly completed.