AUSTRALIAN COAL STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 26 February 1947, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN COAL STRIKE

Press' Assn.

New South Wates atfd Victoria Afieelei

?7/ TPletirct'.wh

-GGVjiffmVii

R'eceivOd Wednesday, il.50' a.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 25-. All' coalmiiiers in New S'outh. i.Vales and Victoria will stop work _or -twenty-four hour's today whil'e' .he southern ' mihers demohstrate _h Sydney. The stoppage will' fneah Ghe loss of neaily 57', 000 tons of coal and' is likel-y to precipitatejerious shortages as the maih Sydney powerhouse has only a few nours' supply and colder weather is iot far off, About 16,000 miners are idle, 800' jf whom are in Victoria. Southern New South Wal-es minors are protesting against the failure of the State Governmeiii ' to recognise their claims for dust compensation and improved working conditi'ons. Northern. miners are backing the protest and- are sending their own delegates- to l .narch in Svdney.

The Victorian miners are taking. action because the Federal Gov--ernment has refused to back their claim for a Coal Authofity similar to that in New South Wales. Mr. Chifley appealed to the" executive and members of the Miners' Federation not to begin a general strike which could only mflict great hardships on many ■ other members of the community.. He stated that a Coal Aufhority had been set up in New South? . Wales with a long range pohcy for , reorganising the industry and' improving the conditions of coalworkers. He would certainl'y ask that this authority be- given the opportunity to function. The miners have decided that instead of the conference between interested parties, wh-ieh eoll-apsed because of the refusal of the Queensland and New South Wales Governments to attend', there will be a conference between the miners and leaders.