CRISIS FOR INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 6

CRISIS FOR INDUSTRY

(Roc. 1.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 24. Severe rationing is threatened in all essential industries because of the stoppages on the coalfields, said the Minister of Supply (Senator Ashley). He aduetl that, although lie hud met every “reasonable request oi the coal industry, stoppages oil the coalfields continued tu increase and a state of anarchy” existed, resulting in Austialia being held to ransom. Senator Ashley said the reduction of the services by the railways was only the first evidence of similar action which would probably have to be taken by many other services throughout

Australia. The position in other States dependent oil New South Wales coal supplies was perhaps a little worse. Senator Ashley announced that he had asked the Coal Commissioner (Mr Miglieil) to take whatever action lie thought fit to deal with trivial stoppages. “The time has now arrived to decide whether Australia’s whole rehabilitation programme is to be whittled down because of unreasonable and unjustifiable coalmine stoppages.’ ho said. “1 know there are two sides to the disputes on the' coalfields, blit I want to emphasise that many oi the most recent stoppages appear to have been completely unjustified,” said Senator Ashley. Prosecutions have been launched against 25 of the miners who staged the stay-in strike at the Rhondda colliery.