The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 1

Xate edition I CATAMARAIl SPEED BID Getaway Extra, Pag 22. ELEPHONE 2 0944 NO. 43,873 FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1978 26 PAGES 14 CENTS FIRST PUBLISHED 1831 Hetali Mi tttlm Aust team material in imprisons radioactive synthetic rock A magnified cross section of a piece of Synroc. ate atom waste claim coin DONT expect too much action over International si' fares for the next couple of weeks. The Federal Minister for Transport, Peter Nixon, is on holidays.

DURING recent days we have asked some major airlines flying to Europe or the US about cheap-fare options that involve paying for most of the journey from some intermediate destination such as Auckland. Our Asian and Pacific neighbours already enjoy cheap air fares which come almost to our doorstep. THE airlines are prohibited by the Federal Government from advertising these money-saving procedures, but it is not yet illegal to ask for the details. From RICHARD ECKERSLEY CANBERRA. A team of scientists from the Australian National University claims to have developed a new, safe process for the disposal of radioactive wastes.

It involves "locking" the waste inside synthetic rock. The crystal lattices of individual minerals in the synthetic rock can imprison dangerous radioactive elements for millions of years. The method, the team says, overcomes one of the major objections to the use of nuclear power the possibility of radioactive wastes escaping from disposal sites. The team of geochemists, from the Research School of Earth Sciences at the ANU is led by the school's director, Professor A. E.

Ringwood, who is considered one of the world's leading geochemists. Details given to 4-mmMaeH'mMeaaM Sgp-'-y (is.) I. 4 I ft itjL I I If tTM Wr JMMI i i mi mm ii i i TTNfcii 4miJm i mm PM, Hayden Members of the research Ware, Mr W. O. Hibbertson, Dr Sue Kesson, Professor A.

Ringwood and Mr A. Major. The development was considered of such importance by the ANU that copies of Professor Ringwood's book, which describes the method, were given to the Prime Minister, Mr Frascr, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hayden, two days ago. The book was rushed through printing in less than two weeks and published simultaneously in Australia, Britain and the United States yesterday. The new method has been patented by the ANU.

EEC vetoes UK uranium agreement Supermarkets are forced to close By KEITH MARTIN, Industrial Reporter Suburban supermarkets began closing last night as they ran out of stock because of the storemen and packers', dispute. Inn Mr van Otterloo Willem van Otterloo killed in accident MELBOURNE. The distinguished Dutch conductor Willem van Otterloo was killed in a car accident in Melbourne last night. Mr van Otterloo, 70, completed on July 25 his sixth season as chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He was to have become principal guest conductor of the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras.

He died when a small sedan and a cattle truck collided at Windsor, a Melbourne suburb. Th ni" cnun rn Ia mi at maA uw vui of kill vil uiv VI A vflu and struck a pole. Mr van Otterloo, a passenger in the car, was thrown through the back window. His wife was in the Alfred Hospital last night with a broken wrist. The driver of the car, Mr John Fletcher, about 60, was not injured, but Mrs Fletcher was treated at the hospital for shock.

Mr van Otterloo spent yesterday rehearsing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and soloists for performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights. The general manager of the ABC, Mr Talbot Duckmanton, said last night: "Mr van Otterloo won widespread respect from all those he worked with, players and administrators in Australia "My wife and I knew Willem van Otterloo as a friend. We join with the many thousands of Australians who appreciated his musicianship in extending our sympathy to his wife and family. "Music has suffered a grievous blow with his passing." Obituary, Page 8. Heffron dies at 87 Mr Robert James Heffron, the Labor Premier of NSW from 1959 to 1964, died in the Kirribilli Private Hospital last night.

He was 87. Mr Heffron, who wus a member of State Parliament from 1930 to 1968, was Minister for Education from 1944 to 1962. In the 1930s he played a major part in the deposing of Mr J. T. Lang as Labor leader in NSW.

Obituary, Page 8 I TODAY'S WEATHER MM Metropolitan: Dry. Max temps: City and Liverpool 15. NSW: Showers southern Ranges, becoming dry. Cool to cold SW winds. Details, Page 20.

LATE NEWS Surprise at Games move LONDON, Commonwealth Shr'titnlh Kii'mphiil, wml today lie deeply ilisiippoinic'1 Hint surprised at Nipi'riii'' decision to boycott tin' Comnmnweiilth Game in r.dmonlon, Cuniidw. Nigeria wn one of tin-prime movers behind boycott of the H7h Olvm pic linmes in Monti out 1 when 22 African, Aian und Caribbean coiintcu-s out in protest aiMiinst New Zealand's uporlinu lies with South Africa. 1'iirliir report, Iwrk nMid publlihtrl ky. John ilMM f.Jntv, J(J01. Nrglilir.il slllnf 11 nuhllciiTon Category I.

Kf om. mo'daii w4 minimum hm only. Inltr. llii ky ilr mri. turing and processing industries in NSW.

Next week manufacturers would have to cut production and consider standing down their workers. Mr Holt said that with the eight warehouses of the five major supermarket chains closed since Monday the manufacturers had tried to deliver goods direct to the supermarkets, but the Transport Workers Union had directed truck drivers to make only normal deliveries. The dispute could now be considered a national one, because the supermarkets were supplied by manufacturers throughout Australia. Not only grocery manufacturers, but also makers of chemicals, toiletries, pharmaceuticals, soaps, washing powders, detergents and other products were now affected, Mr Holt said. According to an advertisement by Grocery Manufacturers of Australia Limited on Page 4 of today's Herald the dispute could cost about $4 million a week in lost wages.

THERE is nothing so lonely, morbid or drear, as announcing a brewery without any beer. The Premier was with Harry Alee, Tooth' managing director, to give details of the new Lismore brewery. As soon as he saw a thirsty press waiting, Mr Wran said: "This calls for a Cold Gold." Leaping to carry out this order, the Premier's staff discovered the hotel strike had dried up the only handy supply. OUTSIDE one Broadway hotel yesterday the sign read: "SALOON BAR CLOSED. Due to it beini; shut." THE nude-footballer-on-TV row has left Melbourne bemused.

There they have public galleries in some changing rooms, from which the fans can watch their heroes take a shower. But then again, they are a peculiar bunch down there. "SURELY there can only be one slogan for NSW number plates THE HARBOUR STATE," says a reader. The Sydney Visitors' Bureau, which is seeking a slogan, is flattered, but doesn't think motorists in places like Parkcs, Broken Hill or Boggabri would be very happy. IT was one of those mornings for many commuters at Flemington yesterday.

They watched their trains approach the platform then suddenly diverge on to a siding through the nearby markets, through the fruit, flowers and other produce, to reappear down the track. Tfie points had failed near the station and PTC controllers had to take quick, but for Flemington, drastic, steps to keep the rest of the line on time. THE Devonshire Street ped-estrian tunnel at Central station is a long, boring, dirty trudge, but at least one commuter has it beaten. A man in his twenties has been seen sweeping through it on roller skates. gfe3ffl I Births, Deaths, etc 15 Comics, Crosswords 20 Finance 13-15 Getaway Extra 21-22 Gardening 12 Law Notices 20 Look! 12 Lotteries (1350, 3024) 17 Mails 19 Radio 19 Shipping 20 Sport 2324 Television 10 Travel 10-11 Weather 20 READERS' LETTERS: Serv Ing the public (Mr B.

Cotter); The price of Whisky (Mr T. J. Conway); Schools and Uranium (Mr A. Davles). Page 6.

FORT DENISONt High 2.47 am (1.2 metres); 3.34 pm (1.4 metres). Low 8.57 am (0.4 metres); 11.04 pm (0.5 metres). SUNt Rises 6.51, sets 5.12. MOON: Rises 12.53 am, sets 12.03 pm. Turn behind the Financial news for Personal notices: P15 Classified Index: PI 5 ADVERTISING: 2 0944 From IAN FRVKBERG, Staff Correspondent LONDON, Thursday.

The European Commission has vetoed the proposed nuclear safeguards agreement between Britain and Australia. Contracts for uranium worth about $1,500 million are now in doubt. After weeks of negotiations with British and Australian officials the commission, the policy formulating body of the European Economic Community decided late last night to reject the agreement in its present form. A ceremory planned in London for this afternoon, at which the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Anthony, and the British Energy Minister, Mr Wedgcwood Benn, were to sign the agreement had to be cancelled. The Australian and British Governments criticised the commission's decision as "unfortunate" and "frustrat-ing.

Mr Anthony said in a press statement released in Canberra yesterday that the decision meant that Britain and other EEC countries appeared to be facing a demarcation dispute over the negotiation of safeguard agreements. The commission has apparently decided that member countries of Euratom the nuclear buying agenev for the EEC cannot sign individual safeguard agreements. "We and the British saw the agreement as a very satisfactory one," Mr Anthony said. "It met our mutual safeguards objectives and would have served as a basis for arrangements for supply of team, from left: Mr N. G.

Australian uranium to Britain." A spokesman for Mr Wedgcwood Benn said the British Government regretted the decision. "The Government does not accept the objections of the commission since the draft agreement initialled by both Australia and Britain last month conformed with the Euratom treaty," the spokesman said. However, at a press conference in London, Mr Anthony said the commission's decision did not rule out Europe as a market for Australian uranium, but contracts would have to wait until agreement was reached about safeguards. He said Australia would not "water down" its safeguards agreement. The commission is objecting to a key section of the agreement which would prevent Britain re-exporting Australian uranium to other EEC member countries without permission from the Australian Government.

This is specifically stated in the agreement, which also says that approval will not be given unless the Government is satisfied about the ultimate destination of the uranium and the controls on its use. However, this conflicts with EEC policy that there must ne free movement of goods and services among its nine member countries. A compromise proposal was put forward by the commission which would have meant a "note" being attached to the British-Australian agreement to the effect that it would not conflict with any safeguards agreement worked by Euratom. "This was simply unacceptable to Australia. We are committed to a policy of stringent safeguards," Mr Anthony said at the press conference.

Tbo economy PAGE 8: Australia's inflation rate. PAGE fit Editorial. FINANCE, front page of Section 2: World economic outlook, Also In finance: Tho Austrulian dollar's trade-weighted index of value fell by a further 0.1 points in response to the continuing decline in the value of the US dollar. The other members of the team are Dr Sue Kesson, Mr Nick Ware, Mr Bill Hibbert-son and Mr Alan Major. At a press conference called by the ANU yesterday, Professor Ringwood said the disposal method was much safer than that being considered by most countries today incorporating the wastes in glass and burying them in salt formations.

The development, he said, meant "taking a lesson directly from nature." It was known that many natural rocks and minerals could retain the same elements that occur in radioactive wastes within their crystal lattice, in some cases for from 20 million to 2,000 million years. This was far longer than was needed for the safe decay of the radioactive Professor Ringwood's work has shown that it is possible to confine radioactive waste elements in synthetic rocks more tightly than they are held in natural rocks. His team has produced a number of synthetic minerals, which when melted together at high temperatures and cooled, form a rock called Synroc. Radioactive elements are incorporated into the mixture during cooling and are "locked" into the rock as it crystallises. The elements cannot be leached out to contaminate the biosphere, as could happen with the vitrification or glass-encasing technique, he said.

400 buckets to a hole However the Synroc would still be very radioactive and would have to be isolated in remote areas. The Synroc could be encased in non-corroding nickel-iron alloy containers and deposited in deep holes in granite. His book suggests putting the Synroc in the cylinders measuring 30cm by 300cm and encasing them in nickel-iron buckets containing crushed magnesium oxide and terpentine a rock containing silicate of magnesium. The buckets would then be lowered into holes drilled 3,000 metres deep into granite, 400 buckets to a hole, each bucket separated from the next by a clay seal. The top 1,000 metres 61 euch hole would he scaled with impermeable clay and mudstones.

Professor Ringwood said the cost of the new process would be about twice that of the existing techniques, but would still represent only a few per cent of the total cost of nuclear power. He said the object of the project had been to "define a strategy for waste disposal." A lot of work remained before the most appropriate system for general application could be chosen. However, with "unlimited funds," the process could be scaled up to a commercial level in two to four years. Talks are under way "Although it will not be needed in Australia at a production level for a long time, it is desirable that Australia, as it has so much to gain, should have a strong research and development effort in this area," he said. The ANU was already holding talks with the Australian Atomic Energy Commission on the development of the process.

Professor Ringwood said the principal conclusion of the book was that "the problem of isolating high level nuclear wastes from the biosphere could be solved." Both the Fox Report on uranium and a similar UK study, the Flowers Report, drew attention to the need to solve this problem. The first Fox Report released in October, 1976, stated: "While we do not think that the waste situation is at present such as to justify Australia wholly refusing to export uranium, it is plain that the situation demands careful watching, and depending on developments, regular and frequent reassessment. "If, even in a few years, satisfactory disposal methods have not been established, it may well be that supplies of uranium by Australia should be restricted, or even termi nated." Professor Ringwood and his team believe they have developed such a method. Sale Disposal of High Level Nuclear Reactor Wastes: A New Strategy, by A. E.

Rlns-wood (Australian National University Press, Canberra, and Norwalk, Connecticut, USA Recommended price $2.95, The ANU says the book Is available at Henry Lawsuit's Bookshop, Royal Arcade, City, James Bennett fly Ltd, Col'u-roy, University Co-Operative Bookshop Ltd, Bay St Ultimo. By midday tomorrow Franklins's 76 stores supplying 25 per cent of the market in Sydney and Newcastle will be closed. About 10,000 casual supermarket employees have already been stood down and the dispute threatens the jobs of a further 56,000 people 36,000 permanent employees in the supermarkets and 20,000 in the food manufacturing industry. Yesterday, the NSW Retail Traders' Association applied to the senior State Conciliation Commissioner, Mr H. S.

Wells, to stand down' permanent supermarket employees. Mr Wells referred the application to the NSW Industrial Commission. At a compulsory conference on Wednesday the president of the Industrial Commission, Sir Alexander Beat-tic, suggested that the Store-men and Packers' Union should accept arbitration of its 41 -point log of claims. The union executive met last night to consider this suggestion, but officials refused afterwards to disclose what decision had been reached. Union officials will meet representatives of the RTA this morning and at midday the compulsory conference will resume before the Commission.

The executive director of the Retail Traders' Association, Mr Roy Lawrence, said last night that stocks in affected supermarkets were now critically low. He said that about a dozen Flemings stores closed last night as well as a number of Franklins stores. There had been a run on Franklins stores over the past two days which had almost emptied their shelves. Trading in Franklins stores on Wednesday was double the normal level, Mr Lawrence said. In the other chains, Woolworths and Permewans stores will open until the close of trading tomorrow, but companies will review the situation next week, Coles supermarkets will remain open past the weekend but Coles food stores (the smaller stores) will be closed by the weekend.

Tho five chains operate 530 supermarkets in Sydney and Newcastle. The executive director of the Grocerv Manufacurers of Australia Limited, Mr Bernard Holt, said last night that the dispute now threatened the jobs of about 20,000 cm-ployces in tho food manufac- Mr Lawrence In two other major disputes, hotel employees in fcydncy began a three-day strike yesterday and buses in Sydney and Newcastle will stop for at least four hours today. (Reports, Page 3.) PADDINGTON PROPERTY Paddlngton property. What is available In Pad-dington and what you can expect to pay for Also, the pros and cons of auctions. In the Herald's expanded real estate section, Inside Duntroon James Cunningham talks to some soldiers of the future and the men who train them.

In The Good Weekend. A WORLD- DEATER Big the catamaran designed to challenge a sailing record set In 1854. In Getaway Extra, Page 22. Cutting taxes A report from California, where the people took action to prune what they believed was wasteful government spending. Page 6.

To have the Herald home-delivered Phone 2 0944 if miff Lismore to get brewery Tooth and Co will start work almost immediately on a $20 million brewery at Lismore to boost its sales in northern NSW. The brewery, on a 13.4-hec-tare site, six kilometres from Lismore, will begin production by 1980 and is expected to produce 45 million litres a year within three years of opening. When completed it will employ about 280. Good snow at resorts Heavy falls of snow in the Snowy Mountains promise excellent ski-ing conditions at the major resorts this weekend. Snow was falling at Smig-gin Holes last night on top of heavy falls during the week.

Late last night snow also began in the New England area, Takeover bid The printing and stationery group John Sands Holdings Ltd has received a takeover bid from Textron Inc of the United Slates. Detail In lnunve, front page, Section 2. Annual inflation rate is down Australia's annual inflation rate has fallen to 7.9 per. cent, according to the Consumer Price Index figures issued yesterday. Prices rose by 2.1 per cent in the June quarter, up on the 1.3 per cent increase recorded in the March quarter.

Meanwhile, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has forecast that Australia's inflation rate will he 7 per cent at the end of this year. PAGE 2: Diagram, details of ANU project, profile of Protestor Ringwood, scientific reaction to his work! PAGE 7: Nuclear waste problems In the US. PAGE 13: French to establish energy connec tlon..