COAL STOCKS LOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25053, 17 November 1944, Page 6

COAL STOCKS LOW

CRITICAL SITUATION

PROBLEM IN AUSTRALIA

(Reed. 0.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, Nov. 16 Calamity faced Australia, if coal stocks were not built up, said the acting-Prime Minister, Mr Forde, today. He revealed that coal production to the end of the third quarter is more than 360,000 tons less than for the same period of last year. Mr Forde also stated that railways dependent oil New South Wales coal had effective reserves for only two weeks; that gasworks in some capitals had less than one week's coal supply; that the shortage of coal may cause the steel and associated industries to close down, resulting in widespread unemployment, "I have no desire to be an alarmist," said Mr Forde, "but I say frankly that a gravo calamity can bo avoided only as a result of a concerted effort on tho part of everybody engaged, or even interested, in the coal industry." In the House of Representatives Mr Forde accused the Opposition of taking advantage of tho exigencies of tho moment to embarrass the Government over coal production. Ho was replying to Mr White (United-Victoria), who asked if the Government proposed to take "any definite action" in view of alarming reports about tho transport of fodder for drought-stricken stock and the serious position in the steel industry. Mr White suggested importing coal from Britain. Mr Fordo replied that Australia was not the only country facing a serious coal position, as statistics from tho United States and Britain showed. Anyone who suggested it might be possible to import coal from either of those countries was only toying with tho problem. He announced that further conferences on coal production would bo held next week. . In New South Wales today 2600 mine workers are idle at nine pits, resulting in a loss of 8000 tons of coal. FEDERAL PARLIAMENT SESSIONAL BUSINESS SMAL.L (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 8.15 p.m.) SYDNEY. Nov. 10 Sessional business for the meeting of the Federal Parliament which began yesterday has so dwindled as a result of the Prime Minister's illness that probably only three new bills, aside from purely formal measures, will be introduced. One will be to validate an agreement between the Commonwealth and the Stato Governments to allot £3,000,000 for drought relief in New South Wales, Victoria an I South Australia. The Government also hopes to pass bills authorising Australia's participation in the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and in the work of tho international food convention. Two important statements will be debated during tho sitting. The first of these will bo a summary of war progress which is to be made by tho deputy-Prime Minister, Mr F. M. Fordo. A frank review covering both Australia's direct participation in the war and contingent manpower _ and other problems within Australia is expected. The Minister for External Affairs, Dr H. V. Evatt, will make a statement on the recent Australian - New Zealand conference, and a long debate on this is likely.

AUSTRALIAN PRESS COMMUNISTS' DESIGNS (Reed. 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 10 Attempts were being made by Communists to influence or control tne Sress or journalism of Australia, said 3e re-elected president of the Australian Newspaper Proprietors' Association, Mr R. A. Henderson, at _ the annual conference of the association. Mr Henderson added that it was the practice of the Communist Party to set about destroying confidence in public machinery and public institutions. One of the first things it sought to attack was the confidence of the people in what they read in tho newspapers, and part of tbe procedure was to be found in affiliations sought or contracted with militant political parties. This carried a threat of damage to the tradition of journalistic impartiality and objectivity and constituted a danger to the very existence of a free press. WOMAN'S SIGHT RESTORED DEATH SOON AFTER NEW YORK, Nov. 15 When the bandages were removed yesterday from the eyes of Mrs Eva Matchett, aged 60, she cried: "I can see! I can see!" She had been blind for 20 years. Several weeks ago she I underwent a delicate operation on her eyes. l , . Late yesterday Mrs Matchett visited the doctor who restored her sight. While waiting for the lift to take her to his office she collapsed and died. WAR CRIMINALS' HAVEN REPLIES UNSATISFACTORY (Hoed. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 Tho acting-Secretary of State, Mr E, R. Stettinius, said that Portugal, as well as Eire, had made an unsatisfactory reply to the American request for assurances concerning asylum for war criminals. He added that the reply was under discussion with tfie Portuguese Government, BRITISH AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSED (Heed. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 10 Discussions between the Minister of Agriculture; Mr R. S. Hudson, and tho farming industry have resulted in a large measure of agreement on a longterm policy for British agriculture. Discussions are continuing. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, Mr Tom Williams, said in tho House of Commons that, before the j policy could bo embodied in an Act of Parliament it would be necessary to see how the situation developed during the transition period after the war. Never again, ho added, would British farming rovert to the position it was in before 1939. RAISING DUTCH ARMY WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 Major-General van Straten, Chief of Staff of the Netherlands East Indios Army, conferred with Dutch officials in Washington en route to Holland to raise immediately a Dutch army to aid in the liberation of the _ Netherlands East Indies and to continue tho war against Japan, Although the greater part of Holland is still occupied, General van Strntcn will start recruiting in the liborated areas. From there men who already have had military training will proceed to Australia and New Guinea for further instruction and tropical acclimatisation. after which they will join Netherlands East Indies troops in tho •South-west Paciiio. LEGION OF MERIT AWARDS LONDON. Nov. 15 Four British officers have been a aided the Legion of Merit of tho United States Navy in appreciation of service "exceptionally helpful to tho United States," says tho United States Navy Department. They include MajorGeneral Sir Phillip Mitchell, who was British High Commissioner in tho Western Pacific and Governor of Fiji from July, 1942, to January last. Another of the recipients is General M, Fox Urangwavs, Resident Commissiouei of Gppfb ajs i Islands#