COAL STRIKES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1942, Page 3

COAL STRIKES

HAMPERING WAR EFFORT IN AUSTRALIA FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER’S PROTEST. NEW SOUTH WALES MINERS BLAMED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, April 9. “A coal miner who is not producing coal at present is in the same category as a munition worker who is not producing munitions or a soldier who has deserted his post,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, in an interview shortly before the War Cabinet met to discuss the coal situation. The cumulative effect of the coal stoppages, he added, had greatly impaired the war effort. He stated that he was deeply impressed with the efforts being made by the coal miners in all States except New South Wales. He could not imagine that the problems in,coal production in New South Wales were any greater than those in any of the other States. Having regard to the requirements of the country and the desperate struggle for its existence, he doubted if any man could be satisfied with piffling excuses that were being advanced as the justification for stoppages that were leading to great losses in production. “It is now evident that a test of strength between the Government and the miners cannot be averted for much longer,” says the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney “Sun.” “For months past the Government has been trying to build up a reserve of coal stocks so that the vital war industries would be able to continue if enemy action temporarily interrupted coal production. The continuous strikes without the sanction of the Miners Federation and in face of the repeated warnings by Ministers are defeating this object.”