THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered tor transmission through the Post as a newspaper. WEDNESDAY JULY 20. 1949 What Coal Strike Has Done For Australia

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1949, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered tor transmission through the Post as a newspaper. WEDNESDAY JULY 20. 1949 What Coal Strike Has Done For Australia

While it. is cheering to note indications that, some responsible ele-

unable to reabsorb labour for some time.

ments in labour unions involved in the coal strike in Australia are taking steps io promote a return to industrial sanity, it is veil that the enormity of the crime committed against, the Australian community should be stressed Figures released a. tew days ago disclosed that it normal industrial activity s v.ns not resumed very quickly, the whole population of Australia, from the oldest; to the youngest, would be suffering privations approaching those suffered during the great depression in the early ’3os. Already more people arc unemployed than during the depression, and in thousands of homes savings have disappeared and cupboards have been emptied, with the result that misery has replaced comfort.

Up fill a week ago only one-sixth of the unemployed were receiving monetary relief, amounting to 25/- a week for single men and i'2/5/- for married men, and it was estimated that within a few days, if the existing conditions continued, there would be GBO.OOO idle persons in Australia, or one in every three normally m employment. No wonder miners are realising that they have been pawns in the hands of Communist leaders and are not prepared to continue in that role.

They ore beginning to ask themselves, as all responsible people have been doing since the coal strike began; where is Australia being led'.’

Some economists hove expressed fear that the strike upheaval may be the cause of another depression, which would occur if Australia had to face falling prices overseas before she had recovered from the strike disaster.

They point out that even when the strike is ended much time must elapse before many industries will be able to resume production on a full scale, which means that the return of all unemployed to work will be delayed, thus further reducing their purchasing power and depressing business operations. While miners will be able to earn money as soon as they begin work, big industries which have been stopped through lack of coal will be

This comment is applicable especially to the steel industry, for Ihe Broken Hill Proprietary's hlast furnaces have become cold for the first tune m 30 years, while the works of Australian Iron and Steel, at Port Kemble, are in a. similar state. It is estimated that iron and steel production losses amount to over 150,000 tons, which has had crippling effect upon almost every industry in Australia, and made itself 'felt in New Zealand, where iron and steel shortage is holding up many public and private undertakings. The coal strike, of course, has been particularly detrimental to the building industry in Australia, not only by holding up the steel industry, but by making cement unobtainable. Tiie strike has increased tremendously the shortages which existed before the strike began, these having been given as follows in official statistics: Bricks, 150.000,00 J a year; stoneware pipes, 1,500.000 feet; galvanised iron, 12,500 tons; tiles, 18,500 tons; fibrous plaster, 2.000.0U0 square feet; wallboard, 3.000.000 square feel. Why should Australians have been plunged into the misery which the coal strike has produced, and why should the economy of the Commonwealth have been threatened with disaster? Those who search for an answer to mis question may find it in a statement made by the Victorian branch of the Seamen’s Union, when he said a few days ago;— ' The coal strike is part of a world plan. It is like a fire in which the wood is green and difficult to burn. We must be patient and use all the tactics we know to make it a bright fire. Capitalism is tottering to its doom. This will be one of the last, if not the last., lights of the workers." When democracy has provided the machinery of conciliation and arbitration for the peaceful settlement of industrial disputes, and Communist leaders have shown preference for direct action, which, in the case of Australia, has brought unnecessary loss and privations upon the people, tiie workers have good reason to ask why they should allow themselves to be offered as sacrifices on the altar of an alien ideology.