Rail Restrictions Operate in Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 210, 5 September 1944, Page 5

Rail Restrictions Operate in Australia

CONTEOVEESY OVEE COAL TEOUBLE CONTINUES (Special Australian Correspondent.) Eeceived Monday, 10.45 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 4Coal production is almost at its peak in New South Wales to-day, no mine being idle because ol a dispute. It is hoped production this week will equal that of last week when the loss from avoidable stoppages was less than 8000 tons. All special trains and trams to race meetings and other sporting fixtures in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia were banned as from to-day until further notice under the National Security Eegulationa. Linked with the Opposition’s coal censure motion the treatment of Peter Dargln, one of the principals in the recent Portland “butcher’s girl” strike, is expected to become a major issue in the Federal House of Eepresentatives this week. A flood of protests against the opening of a second butcher’s shop in Portland has poured in on Ministers. The Opposition is expected to make a claim in the House that Dargln is being injured because of the stand which he took to preserve his rights. The permit for the second butchery in Portland will be cited as a further example of the Government’s appeasement policy towards the strikers. The Sydney Sun’s correspondent says to-day that because the constant stoppages have made coal supplies from New South Wales uncertain other States have been forced to develop their domestic resources in an effort to become independent of New South Wales. The most' successful in this move has been Tasmania which now imports only one-third of its coal from New South Wales against 75 per cent, three years ago. “The current debate on the Opposition’s no-confidence motion has focussed the widespread public resentment against both the miners’ indifference to the country’s interest and the Government’s weakness,’’ comments the Sydney Morning Herald editorially to-day. The paper adds that the tone of Ministers’ speeches has plainly reflected their realisation that the Government deserved the reproach.