COALFIELD STRIKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25562, 15 June 1944, Page 6

COALFIELD STRIKERS

NEW SOUTH WALES COAL MINES MEN FAVOUR FULL PENALTIES (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 14. Coal miners on an important northern New South Wales field have voted in favour of sterner action by the Miners’ Federation against men who start irresponsible strikes. By a margin of mors than three votes to two they endorsed the retention of the strict disciplinary code adopted two years ago. This endorsement is interpreted as a mandate to the federation to apply to the limit the 1 penalties prescribed for code breaches. It is accepted as a hopeful sign for .coalfields peace. Because of the number of times the union leaders’ requests for continued coal production have been ignored, the miners’ leaders had become uncertain of the miners’ reaction to the imposing of penalties on those responsible for unjust stoppages. Armed with the substantial authority of the ballot just completed, they are known to be determined to see that every union order for continued work is obeyed. Under the disciplinary code, individuals are punishable by fines up to £5 and suspension or expulsion from the miners’ lodges. Refusal by a lodge to observe the code may be punished by the expulsion of the lodge from the federation. - During the present year more than £IOOO in fines has been collected from members adjudged guilty of causing strikes. In spite of a drop during the past week in the number of unauthorised mine stoppages, Australia’s coal position remains serious. In Victoria the coal position is such that the railway commissioners are curtailing transport, and have cancelled all race trains. Race not be held in the State for some time. A hopeful feature is the increased output at the first mine taken over by the Government on March 10. Since then production has risen by one-third, and there have been no unauthorised stoppages at the mine.