Unemployment In N.S.W. Heavy Until End Of January

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1945, Page 5

Unemployment In N.S.W. Heavy Until End Of January

(Rec. 11.50 a.m.) SYDNEY. This Day. Although more coal is likely to he produced this week than was originally estimated, the industrial authorities fear that because of lack of stocks, unemployment in New South Wales will be very great until the end of January at the earliest. Coalminers begin their Christmas holidays this afternoon and will not return until January 7. By then it is believed coal stocks will be exhausted. It is estimated that more than 500,000 persons lost their jobs when the coal strike forced the authorities to place drastic restrictions on the use of electricity and gas. Industrial leaders said it was difficult to see how restrictions on industry could be lifted with prudence before about January 21. The State Government hopes' that some of the most irksome domestic restrictions on the use of light and power may be modified soon, but a coal expert said there was no ground for optimism about the prospects. The minimum target, of 150,000 tons fixed by the coal authorities as this week’s production is ' likely ,to be greatly exceeded. ; ' Miners’ Federation officials now estimate production to be between 175,000 and 180,000 tons. RUSH FOR TRAINS Ten thousand people failed to get on trains leaving the Central railway station last night for country holiday resorts. The 16 trains which left carried 8000 passengers. Extra police were sent to control the crowds, but people lined the platforms 10 deep waiting for trains to be shunted in, and even before they stopped people scrambled through the windows to get seats. •- Train services to the country have been severely curtailed because of the coal shortage.