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COAL CONTROL
MAY END
Threat Made By
Minister
CANBERRA, Sept. 13.
The withdrawal of the Fede-
ral Government from control
of the coal mining industry,
which would then revert to the
States, is likely to i>e con
sidered by Federal Cabinet soon.
It is expected that discontinuance
of all Federal wartime controls
over coal production will be recom
mended to the Government by the
Minister for Supply (Senator Ash-,
ley). Action to ensure an even dis
tribution of coal between the States
would then be the only remaining
Commonwealth function of coal. I
In an outspoken statement issued !
today. Senator Ashley made an im
plied threat that wartime powers
would be discontinued.
Pending a decision on the future
of the industry, the Government
has summoned an emesgency
meeting of the Fuel Co-ordination
Committee to plan for maintenance
of essential services, should the
coal supplies deteriorate further.
Desperate Position
Senator Ashley said that he could
confirm the statement made by
Mr. Grant, general secretary of the
Miners' Federation, as to the des
perate position of coal stocks. Mr.
Grant had understated the serious- {
ness of the position.
A national convention ot Fede
ration members, representatives of
all States, had just concluded Its
sitting. Senator Ashley said, and
while those present had been talk
ing of "ways and means of enforc
ing union discipline and ensuring
better production," more mines
were idle because of footling ex
cuses than had been the case for
some time.
"It is not the slightest use con
ventions or officials talking about
the acceptance of arbitration when
Individual miners refuse to abide
by decisions of the present indus
trial authorities, composed as they
are of practical and experienced
men drawn from the ranks of the
miners themselves." he said.
"One northern mine has been
Idle for four days because it re
fused to accept a decision of the
northern coal authority on a mat
ter which that authority has twice
investigated, and. I am interested
.to know what federation leaders
have to say about action of that
kind, and how it fits in with their
alleged arbitration policy. Other
lodges refuse to submit matters in
dispute to the local industrial
authority and throw the mines
Idle with a blunt refusal that any
body should be allowed to arbitrate
on the question at issue.
Irresponsible Stoppages
"I could enumerate a list of Ir
responsible stoppages over recent
weeks. I want to say quite frankly
that all Commonwealth Govern
ment Instrumentalities. Including
these specially appointed industrial
authorities, were so appointed
under the wartime powers of the
Commonwealth, and now that the
war Is over the continuance of
these powers in respect of coal pro
duction, even for the period per
missible under the relevant ad
ministration, will receive the early
consideration of the Government
"If members of the Miners' Fede
ration elect to please themselves
whether or not they will submit
their claims to, and obey the deci
sions given by, these industrial
authorities, they can surely have
no objection to the Commonwealth
Government exercising its right of
electing to decide whether or not
these Commonwealth instrumen
talities should be permitted to
continue."
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