LITTLE CHANCE OF AVERTING GENERAL COAL STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 1 March 1947, Page 5

LITTLE CHANCE OF AVERTING GENERAL COAL STRIKE

Press Assn,

♦ 7 •INFLUENCE OF COMMUNIST AGITATORS IN AUSTRALIA

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.-Comiriciht

Received Friday 8.5 p.m. GANBERRA, Feb. 28. N.S.W. poal production slupiped further today when more mines became idie. The miners' central executive sees little chance of averting a general strike. The total coal loss today is 18,070 tons which swelis the week's loss to 100,000 tons. So far-this year stoppages have cost the country 368,000 tons. Two- more mines in Western New South Wales have stopped in support of the southern miners ahd anofher in the north ceased prcductioii until the ag'gregate meetings decide the question of a general stoppage. The objeet of the general strike is to epforce the accepta.nce of 19 demands, including a 35-hour week. The southern miners are idle because of separate demands for improved working conditions though the Bill now before the New South Wales Parliament seems to give them all that they ask. Mr. Chifley said today in the House of Itepresentatives that he could see no permanent solution to a recurrence of the coal crises in less than two years. "The country is suffe'ring from feuds that have disorganisecl the coal industry for a hundred years or more, ' ' he said. "It is an evil we have attempted to cure. The reorganisation and rehabilitation of the coal industry cannot be expected in a couple of days or even a couple of years." Coal had been short for years because^ the needs of industry were expanding while the machinery of production had not expanded in equal ratio. Whether the Prime Minister intended to take action against Communist agitators wlio were instigating and promoting strikes was asked by Mr. Anthony *( Country Party) in ■ the House of Itepresentatives today. He wanted to know whether the Government was aware that two Australian delegates had been sent to the Communist Gongress in London. Mr. Chifiey repiied that he was not even aware that such a conference was being held. The Australian press quotes a neatly documented report issued to delegates to the conference which "boasts quite openly that Communist agitation was behind the recent strikes and unrest in Australia. The report claims that "the Australian Labour Party feels the threat to its supremacy because the Communist Party leads the most important trade unions," and names ironworkers, miners, seamen, engineers, watersiders, building workers, clerks, teachers and hospital employees as belonging to the unions led or influenced by the Communists.

Xcw South Wales and Vie.toria have ciidoi'.sed ihe reeoinmenda1 ion hv tlie Australian Council oi Trade' I'nions that all unionists sliould stop work i'or 34 hours on Aktroh 1 in .support oi' the general 40-hour week elaini. Three States liave now endor.;ed 1lie plan whiel. o'ives a niajoiily oi oue. A.. aniendnienl at Ihe New South Wales Trades and Labour Council ineeling to rH'er the proposal haek to the At'.s! ralasian Council Avas del'eated on the easting vote oi' the president. A message I'roin .Melhourne sug gvsts that though the one-da\ st r «k is fa\'(»ured by a majorit} oi' the live States the Australasiar Council teay review the proposal Because of the extreme'y clo.st nature of ihe voting industria eireles feel that the proposed strike is not })opular witli union-

ists. In any event tlu* strike wi.ll not be held if the 40-hour week is granted before Alarch 1. The A I e 1 - hourue Trades Hall Council earrted the proposal by 118 to 90. Last night was the first timo for tcn years that a major proposal before the New South Wales Trades and Labour Couneil tvquired a casting vote. Only oue speaker who was a Conuminist spoke against the ainendtnent to refer the matter back to the interState executive. When eounted the votes totalled 90 — 90. The voting in the division was P>e same. Tho ehairnian e.ast his vote aeeording to practiee against the 'arnendment. Tlien Ihe motion was put. On a show of liands it was carried by 90 to 83. Another division was called and the voting support ed the motion and strike iction by 86 to 84.