TROOPS READY TO BEGIN

Chronicle (Levin), 1 August 1949, Page 5

TROOPS READY TO BEGIN

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuter*

Full-Scale Scheme For Open Cut Mining t •

Copyright)

Received Monday, 11 a.m. SYDNEY, August 1. Troops on the coalflelds are standing by waiting for tlie code word from Canberra to begin open cut mining operations. The word will be given by the Prime Minister, ;Mr. Chifley, and will be flashed I through Army signals to the camp 1 commanders. The prearranged fullscale Army engineering plan will then swing into action. I Meanwhile, groups of mine workers at Cessnock and Muswellbrook have decided to defy the ruling I by the Miners' Federation Council 1 and hold their own aggregate meetings today. It is likely that the code word to the Army will be withheld until the results of these meetings are known, as there are open cut mines in both areas. i Opposition to a continuance of the strike was expected at Muswellbrook, but the Cessnock reaction came as a surprise. | State Ministers believe that the Muswellbrook men will return to work, possibly taking the Singleton and Gunnedah miners along with them, in the course of the week. The Ministers suggest, however, that in that ease the Army 'would , work two shifts daily and the i miners one in order to secure full | production. \ i The Ministers see no signs of the Miners' Federation capitulatihg, but one commented, "I think that wnen the strike is settled Australia will be a much better and happier ' countrv."