AUSTRALIA'S EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24949, 23 June 1942, Page 3

AUSTRALIA'S EFFORT

FULL SUPPORT BY WORKERS MELBOURNE, June 22. The delegates attending the Trades Union Conference debated the war situation yesterday and to-day, and decided to give the Federal Government whole hearted support in the war effort, and pledged workers to strive for complete victory. This decision is regarded as a personal triumph for the Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, whose address to the conference on Friday made a profound impression. Mr Curtin, who has been greatly concerned at the number of industrial disputes, said before the conference ended that he had been deeply touched by the splendid spirit shown by the delegates. The present struggle demanded the highest resolution, complete service, and unfaltering determination. There must be toleration and understanding, not only of problems with which the Government was faced, but also toleration within the movement itself. "We should go on our knees in thankfulness for our fighting men," he said. "They have never let us down, and must not be let down by us." The conference decided to permit no stoppage of work in any section of industry for any cause whatever without the authority of the unions associated with that industry. It also decided to ask the Government to introduce compulsory unionism as compensation for the sacrifice of many industrial privileges. COALFIELDS DISPUTE STEP TOWARDS SETTLEMENT (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian . Correspondent.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 22. A big step towards the settlement of disputes in the New South Wales coalfields was taken when a meeting of representatives of miners' lodges with a membership of 11,000 men recorded strong opposition to unauthorised strikes in the coalfields. With the exception of one mine, the men were expected to return to work to-day. The sole remaining dispute, it is believed, is likely to be settled during the week. "We seem to have gone mad," said the president of the State Miners' Union, Mr Scanlon. Submarines, he added, had shelled Sydney and Newcastle, but pits were idle without proper authority.

The president of the Australian Miners' Federation, Mr Wells, told the miners that they -must pull their weight in the war effort. The people of Australia were looking down their noses at the miners. "We cannot hold a gun to the heads of millions of people who have the same rights as we have," Mr Wells said,'