N.S.W. COAL CRISIS

Chronicle (Levin), 25 June 1946, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL CRISIS

(Snecial Australian

ALL BOILS DOWN TO MINERS

Uorrespondent.)

Received Mondav, 1" p.m. SYDXEY, June 24. Every authority jiud organisation all'eeted l>y the shoriage of coal in four Australian States is backing oue of a numbe.r of reasons wliv induslrial aud privato. users have suddenly found themselves let down by production. Coal proprietors blaine strikes and absenteeisni among Ihe ininers coupled with the policy of the union leaders to use the shortage as a political vveapon. The ininers, on the other hand, aver that Australia is poorer in coal than is realisedj that rich eoallields have been mined uneconoinically i'or liighest grades of gas and power coal at the expense of the loss of other grades, and that mining methods and machinery iij some. Xew South Wales collieri.es are as niuch as 50 years out of date. The cliairjuau of the iSydnev Uountv Couneil, -Mr. Craiuer, blames the Eederal Uovernmoilt for Sydney's power crisis, stating that supplies eannarked for Bunneroiig powej'huuse have been sent elsewhere. The niost obvious fact which is novv being disc()vered bv niany selt-stvled experts with expressions of aniazenienl, is that the crisis is neither extraordiuarv nor unexpected. Since the troubles of last December, those controlling the ininers have seen 1o it that the industry and power autliorities have not been pennitted to. build up any reserve of coal to run plants 111 case of eiuergencies. In this way the ininers wei'e able to dictate to the Government their demands for the liationalisation of the coal industry. Their victory was comparatively a bloodless oue. At the expense oi a terrilic loss to internal industry and to their own pay rolls, they forced the Government to agree to the demands. There followed during the past nionth, a return to conditions of higli out put and comparative freedom froni industrial troubles. On oue day at least the impossible actuallv happenexl — till the niines in Xew .South Wales were reported to be in operation. By tlien, however, the dauiage had been dune. Australian industry found itself i* -tlie. jniddle of- tlie winter without anyAliihg! inffjie- way of .reserves. The "position ,has been that-iiny emo jgcneysuch as bad weather all'ecthig rail tritnspoi't, heavv seas intertering vvith the rumiing of eolliers to and from Xew east le, or the arrival of ' a eobl spell putting extra loading on powerhouses, would iniinediately cause a desperate situation to arise. Two liionlhs ago the loeal authorities realised this and a four-stage syslem of restrietions was worked out. In Sydney and Xew east le the Jirst and Jiart of tlie second stages are now in operation. The weather prove L the main reason for their inimediate imposition but the ininers were not slow in addmg other troubles. With Australian industry depeiiding on their efforts from day to day, they took advantage oi the King's Birthday and Victory Day to enjoy holidays. In addition many m,en absented Iheiuselves to watch Rugby League imttches between the Englishnien and local leants, aud at least oue mine had to elose down on the day of tlie Loiiis-Conti liulit.

The nnieh discussed Davidson report stated that bv working oue sliift daily iive days a week, Xew .South Wales niines weie eapalile of producing 2,000,- . 000 tons over the Australian requirements of 121 million tons anpiually. During 11)42 the Australian output ... ns actuallv nearly hfteen million but '"tliis year it will be scarcely more than ten million at the present rate. Obviously Australia has coal. The fault appears to lie in tlie miner wlio varies liis output acc.ording to political expedi-' ency. Tliis is borne out in the action of tlie Queensland miners who at a tirne like this, have struck in support of the il'egal action of tix'e meat workers. CARRYINGr ON FROM DAY TO DAY The Minister for Local Governraent, kir. Cahill, today warned industry that thougli for the present he will impose no more power cuts, additional restrictions appear to be inevitable and that they may Le applied suddenly. He .advised any major supply authority which finds that it cannot carry on, to coih-

municate at once with him. Eationing will tlien be reviewed. This statoment was made after the Minister had ex.amin.ed recommendations from the Governmept's Power Committee which met this morning. 'il am aware that the position is grave, " said Mr. Cahill, "but I feel that while we can carry on from day to day we should restrict industry as iittle as possible. " The possibjlities of a greater generation of eleetficity by oil fuel are being investigated. The existing restrictions will save a)iout 700 tons of coal we.ekly.