UNIONS COME TO HEEL

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1949, Page 5

UNIONS COME TO HEEL

(N.Z.P.A.*

-Reuter.

Gaokd Leaders To Purge Contempt

Copyright)

Eeeeived Buudav, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, August 14, Four Cominunist eontrolled uuiuns have made notable witlidrawala fraui the dei'iunt milituncy thoy maintained during the coal strike. The leaders of the. Miuers' Federation, Waterside Workers' Eederatinii and Ironworkers ' Union, now in gaol for coptenipt of Court, will approaeh the Arbitration Court this Aveek to j .purge their Contempt. . Mining Union representatives have agreed to work multiple shifts in the New Sout'h Walhs open cuts from Tuesday, thus pornntting the withdrawal of troops. The Seamen's Union followed up its action iu agreeing to work colliers and tugs, by lifting its three months' old klack ban on the former Union Oompan.v freighter Ngatoro. The ironworkei-s ' Union has repaid , into the bmk Ihe £25,000 it aa ithdrow I when the fupd freezing legislatiou Avas introduced at the begipning of the strike. The Sydney barrister, Mr. S. Isaacs, counsel for oflieials of. tlio Waterside Workers' Federation and Ironworkers' Union, said that appeal documents would be iiled tomorrow. The senior national vico-prosident of the Ironworkers' Union, Mr. P. !McHenry, told Neweastlc ironworkers that the missing funds had been repaid and were intact. I After a conferonce between the miners' representatives and the .loint Coal Board, Mr. K, A. Canieron, eliairnian of the board, announced tliat troops would be withdrawn from ihe 0|)en cuts at midmght tonight. klultipls! shifts are expected to double open cut production but the use of troops to build up a reserve of coal has been avoided. Eocket Range Delays The Bunday Herald's Canberra correspondent says the diversion of technicians from tlie rocket range in South ' Australia to the open cut mines, has delaycd important work. It is feared certain Aveapon tests at . the rocket range will n/ow have to be postponed because of this delav. Technicians | eent .to superintend the earthmoving operationa at the mines, had been workiug on preparatory constructional work for secret rocket iiring and air bombing tests. The Govenment now plans to return theso men as soon as possible and send.more displaced persons to the range in an attompt to maka up the leeway. Tt is believed some troops withdrawn from the open cuts will proceed With the development of other mines. The lifting of the. ban on the Ngatoro means that the Filipino crew will sail the ship to the Philippinos. A former inter-state freighter, the Ngatoro was'' eold by the Union Comnanv to Mad rigal and Company, Manila. Australian seamen banned her because thev ruled that Australian ships when so'd niust be sailed to new honie ports bv Australian crews. The Madrigal Company flew a Filinino crew to Bydne.v at a cost of £3905 on Mny 10, siime 'when the crew iias hen living aboa''d The total cost of fhe hold-up is esii mated at £12,000. The, ship will sail . when coal is available.