FULL CONTROL OF COAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 187, 11 August 1941, Page 6

FULL CONTROL OF COAL

COMMISSIONER IN AUSTRALIA WIDE POWERS GIVEN HIM (Rec. 11 p.m.) Melbourne, Aug. 8. The newly-appointed Commonwealth Coal Commissioner, Mr. Noram Mitchell, is taking over his duties immediately. He has extreme powers to control every aspect of the production, treatment, handling, supplying, distribution, storage and use of coal. He may close or open mines, extend mechanisation, fix freights and colliery profits, and acquire the output of any mine. All the existing managerial and technical facilities will, however, be used by the Government. Federal Ministers, so far, are unable to indicate how the new coal regulations will operate in settling industrial ’disputes which have caused colliery proprietors a perpetual headache. The Minister of Labour. Mr. I-I. E. Holt, gave an assurance to-day that the regulations would not cut across the existing conciliation machinery. Colliery proprietors arc incensed over the inclusion of a miners’ representative, Mr. Nelson, on the new Commission and the non-inclusion of an employers’ representative. The New South Wales Minister of Mines, Mr. Baddeley, also is annoyed because the State Government has been completely ignored in all negotiations for the taking over of coal mines.