N.S.W. MINERS ON STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 4 November 1948, Page 5

N.S.W. MINERS ON STRIKE

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Will Be Tragie Blow To The Nation, Says Chifley *

CovyriQht)

Received Wednesday, 10.5 p.m. SYDNEY, Nov, 3. A general coal strike in New South Wales has started. Aggregate meetings of men, in the north and west deeided today to walk out in support of the men in the south. At ten of 16 meetings scheduled to be held, the men deeided by almost a two to oue majority, for a strike— 2141 votes for and 1151 against. Meetings yet to be held eannot' upset the deeisiion. The men) were asked to approve a reeommendation from the central exeeutive of the Miners ' Federation that the four weeks old strike in the southern pits over the Kemeira tunnel dispute, be extended throughout the State. The strike decision was made by less than a quarter of the effective voting strength of the miners- in the north and west.

Consultations between the Joint Coal Board and Covemment representatives on rationing, began immediately the decision of the miners was known. Aecording to the secfetary of the Metal Trades Employers' Association, Mr. D. G. Fowler, all foundries in New South Wales will -elose within a week. This will mean that in Sjdney alone 150 foundries will elose and at least 4000 workers will be idle. A spokesman of the Chamber of Manufacturers said that most food processing plants would be forced to elose within a week. Coal stocks at Broken Hill Proprietary, Neweastle, are expected to last only a few days and heavy euts which are expected in production there, will result in unemployment and a reduction in output in other Neweastle industries. Bunnerong, Sydney's main powerhouse, has only 12 days' supply of coal. The Australian Cas and Light Company has eight and the stocks of railways departnient and other publie utilities are believed to be small. Drastie netrenchment in industry generally seems inevitable.

Victoria Affected , > WictoBiaifWill also be affected i at once as the railways have only 17 days' supply of coal for engines and 21 days' supply for generating electricity, Gas rationing in Victoria is likely but electricity derived from the use of brown coal mav not be rationed. Declaring that such a strike would be a tragie blotv to the nation, Mr. Chifley appealed to the miners to end the existing strike on the southern coalflelds, to abandon their plans for a general strike, and to^ accept arbitration on the disputed issues. The Australian Council of Trade (Jnions, the Joint Coal Board and the Aeting-Premier of New South Wales (Mr. J. M. Baddeley) have all condemned the miners' action. A general strike, in the faee of the chronic shortage of coal reserves, would mean thai all industries and public utilities depending on coal would elose down within three weeks, precipitating-nation-wide nneniployment and hardsliip. Statements "by the Coal Board and the Australian Council of Trade Unions make it clear that the issues in dispute are not confined to the ostensihle cause, which is the difference of opinion between the unions as to whether the work heing done on the Kemeira tunnel is within the jurisdiction of the Miners' Federation or the Australian Workers' Union. The statements both emphasise that the underlying issue is the dispute "between the Communist-dominated federation and the largely antl-Communist union, which has developed into a struggle for mastery.