COAL PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25717, 13 December 1944, Page 5

COAL PRODUCTION

THE HOLD-UPS IN AUSTRALIA

“A DANGEROUS DRIFT ” (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) SYDNEY. Dec. 12. The Government as well as unions would have to play a part in the efforts to prevent the threatened upheaval in the coal industry, declared a statement issued by the New South Wales Labour Council to-day. The statement followed a conference called by the council at which key transport and heavy industries, miners, and the Australian Council of Trades Unions were represented. A warning was given from the conference that the continuance of the deadlock between the Government and the miners would lead to a breakdown in the industry.

The president of the Labour Council. Mr G. Anderson, said the trades union movement was greatly concerned at the drift in the coal industry. Unless it was arrested, the present drift could only lead to a breakdown in the relations between the Government and miners and in industry generally. To prevent this. Labour Council officials were doing everything poss : ble. but the Government also had its part to play. The unions hoped for results from a conference called for next week by the Australian Council of Trades Unions. To-day in New South Wales two mines are idle as a protest against the garnishee of wages for the non-pay-ment of fines imposed for absenteeism. The garnishee issue and the Government’s refusal to permit miners to take 16 davs' Christmas holidays are the most urgent causes of the present strained relations between the Government and the miners. Widespread troubles in the mining industry, however are not anticipated until the New Year, and it is hoped that next week's conference may avert them