NO POWER FOR INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 26, 29 December 1945, Page 5

NO POWER FOR INDUSTRY

NEW SOUTH WALES PROBLEM. RATIONING STILL IN FORCE SYDNEY, Dec. 28. The gas and electricity supply authorities are now confident that it will be possible to lift all restrictions in New South Wales on January 7, provided the public continue the eo operation they have so far given. during the unrationed period from 7 p.m. on Monday to midnglit on Wednesday was so reasonable that the restrictions will be lifted again from 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve until midnight on New Year’s Day. The Minister of Local Government (Mr Cahill), expressing gratitude for the public’s co-operation in saving power, said the State Government plans to abolish rationing on January 7, when the coalminers will resume work after the Christmas holidays.

Meanwhile nearly 500,000 people remain idle because of the prohibition on the use of power by industry and commerce. No trams will run in Sydney and Newcastle again next week-end, for the third time.

The Ironworkers’ Union has not yet taken any steps to direct its members on strike at Port Kembla and Newcastle to return to work. The application by the Ironworkers’ Federation for re-registration will be heard next week. (The Broken Hill Proprietary refused to deal with the de-registered Ironworkers’ Union during the strike.) The suspension of D. Parker from the Port Kembla steelworks, which precipitated the strike, is still being considered by the Industrial Commission. Unionists have handled “black” coal at the Newcastle steelworks of Broken Hill Proprietary and have done this work without protest. Coal from stocks placed at the steelworks at the direc--1011 of the Commonwealth Coal commissioner (Mr Mighell) hay been hauled to be used by the New South Wales railways during the holiday period.

Victoria and South Australia are struggling along with meagre stocks of coal and substitute fuels. The stocks of the South Australian Gas Company’s works were almost exhausted when a collier reached Adelaide yesterday with coal from Newcastle.

The gas, electricity and transport restrictions are being maintained in Victoria and Soutli Australia, although these are not as severe as those in New South Wales.