DEADLOCK SETTLED

Chronicle (Levin), 19 September 1946, Page 5

DEADLOCK SETTLED

■+. N.S.W. COAL INDUSTRY BILL Eeceived Wednesdav, 7 p.m. 5SYDXEY, Sept. 1S. Tiie confliet betweeu the Government and tiie Opposition in the State Legislative Council on the Coal ludustrv Bill euded in a eomproinise last niglit. Both sides made concessious, and the Council later passed the Bill with. niinor alterations instead of the drastic changes approved last week. The Premier (Mr. Mclvell) later announced that the Legislative Asseiubly would accept the Council 's decision, tlius ending wlint threatened to becoinea major crisis in relations betweeu the Council and the Asseinblv. Ministers are relieved, as they feared that if the Council insisted on the origmal amendments, an industrial crisis on the coallields would have followed. The eomproinise move was niade by the Opposition, and discussions had taken place before the Council met late vesterday. The meeting was adjourned to perinit the discussions to continue. The Opposition still hehl a majority, as neither of the two Labour members who were absent last week attended yesterduv. One is in hospital and the other in Melboume. The Bill, which is similar to the one already passed by the Federal Parlia* ment, provides l'oi a system of joint eontrol of the coal industry by the State and Federal Governments, with penalty clauses for illegal stoppages. The eompromises include the admission of colce with coal within the proyisions of the Bill, the incorporation of all mines, provision of the right lo appeal for employers to the Industrial Committee, and r»*eognition of the right of the Prime Minister and the Premier' of Xew South Wales to direct policy. It is not yet known whether the miners will accept the changes, as they have not been given direct representation 011 the Coal Board. Their attitude will be that of the rank and lile.