Lifting Of Coal From NSW Strike Areas Starts

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1949, Page 5

Lifting Of Coal From NSW Strike Areas Starts

SYDNEY, Fri. (1.30 p.m.)—Full-scale lifting of coal from the danger areas about Cessnock, Karri and South Maitland began at dawn today in the face of threatened opposition by younger miners. The State Government plans to have most, of the 20,000 tons of coal now in trucks on the South Maitland field in Sydney by the end of t he week.

This will enable Sydney gas companies to continue the present restricted service, which otherwise would have ceased completely next Monday. Assured ,of the help of 25,000 members of the Australian Railways Union throughout the state, and covered by nearly 400 police on the South Maitland field, the Government is ready for any contingency. Salaried officers of South Maitland private railways will move the trucks from private sidings to assembly points on the Government line, where the trains will be taken over by union crews.

(ration Court to reveal the whereabouts of union funds withdrawn from banks. Mr C. W. Anderson, president of the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council, told miners at Cessnock that the secretary of the Miners’ Federation (Mr G. W. S. Grant) had said the Communist Party laid “pulled on” the strike. "I hope the people will realise they have been led up a side track,” added Mr Anderson. . OPEN-CUT MINES State Government sources reveal that the State and Federal Governments intend to get coal from open-cut mines soon, and are lepared to use troops if necessary. A convoy of army 1 rucks with a military escort has already taken earth-moving units to Minmi open-cut mine on the Newcastle field. It was declared authoritatively in Canberra that, if other methods, including open-cut work, fail, the Federal Government will declare a state of industrial emergency and order the miners to resume work. Coal removed from the Maitland area will not Jast very long and the open-cut schemes are planned to be in operation when this coal is exhausted. USE OF TROOPS It is understood that, by doubling shifts and working a seven-day week, the Government, intends to recover 80,000 tons of coat a week from the cuts. The opening of new cuts already surveyed would increase this to over 100,000 tons. Today hundreds of heavy army trucks are moving from Melbourne to Newcastle, where similar convoys from Adelaide. Brisbane and Sydney will join them to form army transport headquarters. Ninety per cent of the army drivers saw service ih tnc last war.

The coal will be taken to Newcastle and tipped into bins, from which it will be loaded into Government trucks. This is necessary because colliers are not running and private trucks are not equipped lo stand the haul to Sydney.

If the operation runs to schedule the first coal from the South Maitland field will reach Sydney this evening. The first coal from the Roth bury area, lifted on Wednesday, reached Sydney by rail last night. Leaders of Communist-controlled unions in Sydney are trying to prevent the use of coal being brought to Sydney for essential services. Reports indicate that, with the exception of (he seamen, who are refusing to man colliers, they are not meeting with much success.

SETTLEMENT TERMS The central council of t.he Miners’ Federation has now increased its terms for settlement. It vail not agree to any terms which do not include: (1) The release of all gaoled officials. (2) Withdrawal of court proceedings against all other union officials. (3) Repeal of all Federal and State Government emergency strike legislation. The council endorsed the action of union officials in refusing, in the Arbi-