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

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1978 fots ecohomic Finn liPHONV 2 0944 26 PAGES 14 CENTS' VJ JB? FIRST, PUBLISHED 1831 mown? LATE EDITION 1(1 COLD Govt will need entire Army' to take land Premier Japan to join $90m coal project MR JIlKI.PlTIKtlN Qld MaMaMasaaMaaa it.ij) tmnNH ami I VoM WWWffPWMtwmyw 7 7f Jit7 4 lf -i 3 1 ft 'UMfmm hXS -1 1 'i i AtJjtti tMiiiM aaiaaaaaaaaaaK'iBaiaaaBaiaaBiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaBya a Canberra on reserves The Queensland Premier, Mr Bjelke-Petersen, said last night the Federal Government would "probably have to recruit its entire Army" if it wanted to take over all Aboriginal reserves in Queensland. The Queensland Government would never allow State land to be taken over, he said. He was speaking after the Federal Government began rushing through Parliament its legislation to give Aborigines and islanders on Queensland reserves the right to self-management. The Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Vincr, explaining the bill in Parliament, said the Federal Government would be able to buy areas of land on the reserves if the Queensland Government tried to frustrate the working of the self-management bill. Aborigines claimed yesterday that the Federal bill was too weak.

The National Aboriginal Conference, meeting in Canberra, called for a week's delay in the passage of the bill so amendments could be considered and independent legal advice sought. But Mr Viner said the bill would not be delayed. It was passed through the House last night and is expected to be passed by the Senate tomorrow. Court challenge When members of the National Aboriginal Conference, meeting in Canberra, went to Parliament House to meet the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, yesterday Mr Ray Munyal, of the Northern Territory, put his hand on the Prime Minister's shoulder and kept it there. Five dead in storm: fires rage on DDOO REFLECTOR number plates, bearing the words, The Premier State, will be introduced in NSW, probably by the middle of the year.

Plates of the new design (illustrated below) will cost $4 or $5. Old-style plates will still be available free. PERSONAL initial black and white plates will still be available but a personal version of the 'new Premier Stale plates will also be sold. This will mean that four different styles of plates could be in use on private vehicles by the end of the year. BLACKTOWN Municipal Council is developing what it calls an "equine recreation centre" at Doonside.

Children in the area could be forgiven for not knowing that the park will be for horse-riding. A BUS conductor left his packed bus and walked back to the side door where he began ordering from the bus a group of people who had just squeezed on as a passenger was struggling off. After about six people left the bus the driver promptly closed the doors and drove off, leaving the harassed conductor sprinting down Victoria Road, Drummoyne. YESTERDAY we complained about the useless sign behind the power pole by Parra--matta Road, Concord. Never in our wildest whingeing did we think it would be fixed the same day (see above).

SINCE 1975, when Phar Lap's headstone was placed at Randwick Racecourse, an anonymous admirer 'of the great racehorse has, on April 5 each year, laid a wreath to mark the anniversary of the champion's death in 1932. This year the. admirer was apparently out of town. A florist has received an order to deliver a wreath to the headstone and will do so today, a day late. THE Leader of the State Opposition, Mr Peter Cole-' man, kicked off for Newtown last weekend in their first-grade League match against Balmain, the.

team the Premier, Mr Wran, supports. Balmain won 39-5. Arts 8 Births, Deaths, etc 18 Comics, Crosswords 7 24 Finance 15-17 Federal' Parliament 10 Law Notices 24 Look! 11-14 Lotteries (1287, 2985) 20 Mails 24 Radio 23 Shipping 23 Showscene 17 Sport 24-26 Television 23 Weather 24 READERS' LETTERS: Aus- Mr M. Stevens, Australia tost); NSW Prisons Report (Mky Sandra Wiltson); IBM's letter to-Mr Fraser (Mr A. G.

Moyes, IBM) Page 6. Fort denisoni Hieh OU1 M.vmw, fru. (1:6 Low, 1.07 (0:3 metres), 1.35 pm (0.2 metres). SUNs Rises 6.10, sets 5.44. MOON: Rises 4.26 am, sets 4.54 pm.

Turn- hahlnrt tha Financial news for Personal notices: PI 8 Classified index: PI 8 ADVERTISING: 2 0941 row He said a State parliamentary group that visited -Aurukun in mid-1976 was shocked at the deplorable conditions. "It was reported that the people were 'generally apathetic, listless and uncommunicative whilst basic 'rules of hygiene and decency had obviously been dumped for something euphemistically called self-determination," he said. Earlier this week, he said: "I am disappointed that a Liberal Government would turn its back on Liberal Party policy and adopt basic ALP policy." Two big Australian companies will join Japanese interests and the Electricity Commission of NSW in a $90 million project to develop rich coal reserves in the Upper Hunter Valley. The Minister for Mines and Energy, Mr Hills, who announced the venture yesterday, said all the coal mined initially would be exported. The Australian companies invited by the State Government to join the venture are Ampol Petroleum Ltd and Pioneer Concrete Services Ltd.

Each will have a 20 per cent interest, compared with the Electricity Commission's 50 per cent. Negotiations are still in progress with the unnamed Japanese enterprise about taking up the remaining 10 per cent. Mr Hills said at a special press conference yesterday that the partners had been promised minimum deposits of 200 million tonnes of coking and steaming coal. The site was in an area reserved for the commission south of Mount Arthur, between Denman and Muswell-brook. The partners would begin a feasibility study costing about $300,000 in about six weeks.

It would take up to six months. The mine was expected to be in full production by late 1981 or early 1982. Exports could range between 1 million tonnes and 5 million tonnes per year. Bigger equity sought Mr Hills said the Government could have proceeded alone with the venture through the Electricity "But we do appreciate the private enterprise expertise, particularly in the management of the operation of mining for export purposes, and also their ability in dealing with markets," he said. The Japanese enterprise had already shown its interest in the venture by seeking a share larger than the 10 per cent equity already proposed.

Mr Hills said the project would eventually provide coal for power generation and would help to curb increases in the price of power. "If we can keep the price of our industry charges down on electricity, this encourages more industry to tms atate ana creates more jobs for NSW people, he said. -He said the infrastructure costs of establishing the mine would not oe nign. A rail loop was already proposed to service Electricity Commission interests in the area. An 58 million washer to be used for cleaning coal for local power stations would probably be used to clean coal from the new mine.

A coal loader already installed at Newcastle was only being used at 25 per cent capacity, and the harbour at New castle was being deepened to cater for ships of 100,000 tonnes deadweight. power for its refusal to do a deal. Mr Andreotti told parlia ment: "In the face of this treacherous difficulty we refuse in the strongest possible terms any acceptance, ot blackmail. Minutes after he finished speaking, the brigades released their communique and Mr Moro's letter in Milan, Rome arid Genoa. "Police said both documents appeared genuine.

But the Christian Demo- cratic Party suggested that the former Premier had been forced to write the appeal. "Morally, it be ascribed to Signer Moro," the party said. His name has not been released. Mrs Edna May McLaren, 42, of Kendcnup, near Mt Barker, was killed by a falling tree while helping to fight bushfircs. At Albany, lohn Anderson Edwards, 63, a fisherman, was drowned and Allan Higgins, about 30, is missing.

They took out a small dinghy during the storm to check moorings on their fishing boat. James North, 62, of West Toodyay, was killed when he fell from the roof to a hay shed. He was trying to repair it in the storm. Kevin James Waters died near Pcmberton in a collision between a truck and a utility during the storm. -An artist's impression of the mine-Hunting catamaran.

Catamarans as Navy mine-hunters From our Defence Reporter 'WlI'lilrHy Hong Kong ThrM paget ot Herald Travel devoted to this unique city: ahopplng, sight-seeing, getting away from it all. Calculated risks World surfing champion Shaun Tomson talks about his career in Getaway Extra. Plus camping on Fraser Island, speed and how to make fishing lures. usasn Before the Budget Sir William McMahon calls for a return to "well-tried and sue cesslul Liberal Page 7. The summing-up Yvonne Preston, in China, recalls the massive changes of the past two years.

Page 7. i Plus Marls Khuckey talks to Brian JUdlss, LOOM Ffle13. Women and trade unions, loom pagan. TODAY'S WEATHER Metropolitan: Mild to warm, sunny. Max temps: City 25, Liverpool 27.

NSW: Showers on the North Coast. Dry elsewhere, northerly winds. Details, Page 24 LATE NEWS Aquino to stay in jail Wednesday. "-President Marcos of the Philippines said today that the imprisoned opposition leader, Mr Benipio Aauino, would remain in jil even if he wins in Friday's elections to an interim National Assembly. AAP-AP.

Daughter campaigns. Pise 5. Showscenc -Page 1 7 frloUd and publlihad by John Fairfax innmi "tteVst way. Postal addren: Box SOI, GPO, gyefnav, 2001. Rtfllittrtd for posting at wwipaptr Category Pteom-mtntfatf and maximum prlct only.

Inttrv state by air axtri, signs counter-measures ships. Its advantages are good stability for the size of craft, large deck space, wide beam and thus separation of screws for increased manoeuvrability, and the opportunity to reduce the craft's magnetic signature with novel design features. These make it an attractive and cheap alternative. The MHCAT will have a minehunting system in a container. It can be transported by road, sea and air for easy re-, moval.and replacement.

Its mine disposal system also will be capable of easy remov Mr Bjelke-Petersen, in his strongest statement since the Federal legislation announced last week, said his Government would challenge the Federal legislation in the High Court. In a speech to the Australian Coal Conference at Surfers Paradise last night, he said the fight for Aurukun "is really a dispute about mining royalties." "The church and the Aboriginals want mining, but on the same basis and royalties as the Northern Territory." A spokesman for the Premier said the State Cabinet was right behind him in the fight. He said the Premier would not reveal what he had planned until the Federal legislation was clearly understood. Earlier yesterday, the Queensland Minister for Aboriginal and Islander Affairs, Mr Porter, said ownership of Aboriginal reserves had always belonged to the Crown. He told State Parliament he had grave doubts that the Uniting Church had any legal rights to manage the Aboriginal communities of Aurukun and Mornington Island.

The present controversy began when the. Queensland Government announced that it would take over the management of the communities from the church. "Management, not ownership, sometimes has been conferred upon church bodies," he said. 'Little huffing and puffing He also warned the Federal Government that the State Government would not back down on the question of management of the two communities. "Let me say this: If Mr Viner' thinks he merely has to do a little huffing and puffing to have this State's house fall down before him he should think again," he said.

"Other would-be overlords have tried this trick with Queensland and discovered to their sorrow that things did not work out as they hoped." The Australian people had not yet seen the true picture of the State Government's reason for deciding to take control of the two Aboriginal reserves. "Too many inaccuracies, innuendoes, half truths, distortions and outright untruths have been made by certain indtyiciuaji, of late and fed lia the wav one would feed garbage to a pack of sharks," he said. ADELAIDE. Residents fled their homes yesterday as a major bushfire blazed out of control through the Adelaide Hills in 30-dcgrcc temperatures. At least one house was burnt down.

(Picture, Page 2) Myer profit down 23pc Emphasising the difficult conditions in the retail trade, net profit of Australia's largest department store group, Myer Emporium fell by 23 per cent in the six months to January 31. Myer's earnings were $20,75 million for the period. Details in finance, front page, section 2. PERTH. Residents of the south-west corner of Western Australia were still suffering last night the effects of the storm which devastated the area on Tuesday, causing at least five deaths.

More than 1,000 firemen and volunteers were out last night fighting more than 50 bushhrcs. At Bunbury streets were flooded, power lines were tangled across main roads and trees were uprooted. Damage caused by the remnants of Cyclone Alby as it struck the south-west of the State is estimated at well over $20 million. The Perth metropolitan area and nearly every town from Gcraldton to Albany was extensively damaged. Thousands of workers were sent home from factories which had no power yesterday.

Industry sources estimated that the cost of lost production would exceed $8 million. At Manjimup a man was killed when a bulldozer clearing a fire break overturned; Australia win Test GEORGETOWN (Guyana), Wednesday. Australia' won the third Test against the West Indies today by three wickets. The West Indies now lead the series 2-1. Australia resumed today needing 69 runs to win.

(Report, Back Page.) Mr Moro I3 'fyP The chairman of the Queensland National Aboriginal conference, Mr lohn Newfong, said in Canberra the bill achieved "very little and possibly nothing." He was suspicious at the way the legislation was being rushed through Parliament. Threatened position "The people of Aurukun and Mornington Island and people on every Aboriginal reserve in Queensland arc in a very threatened position and this piece of legislation gives them no protection," he said. Mr Newfong and the chairman of the North Queensland Land Council, Mr Nick Miller, said the legislation should be amended so the reserves would be acquired outright and given to Aborigines. "There arc certain sections of the bill which protect the right of the Queensland Government to set up alternative administration on the reserve. I think that is highly likely to happen in view of the recent behaviour of the Queensland Mr Newfong said.

But Mr Vincr said these fears were unjustified. The bill gave adequate protection to the people and would allow theni to be free from the direction of the State Government. He said there was a protective measure to ensure that if the communities ran into any problems because the property is Queensland property in getting access to communities, the Commonwealth had the power to acquire those pieces of land and make them available to the members of the community. It is understood that vital buildings on the reserves, such as schools and hospitals would be acquired so that the Aboriginal people could continue to run their affairs. PAGE 3: Take holiday, Premier (old.

Power to give lands. PAGE Editorial. al, allowing for centralised re pair and maintenance. Although the MHCT pro ject is in its early stages and the Defence Department refuses to provide more details, it has been given high priority, together with a replacement minesweeper piujcti. CANBERRA.

The Navy is building a revolutionary mine-hunting ship with twin hulls made of glass reinforced plastic. It will be the first of up to 10 such vessels expected to enter service from the mid-1980s as part of the Defence Department's prograro to keep' pace with counter-measures to mines. Larger overseas-designed catamaran minehunters, both expensive and controversial in their concept, prompted navy designers to conceive an Australian ship for local conditions. It will be 30 metres long with a displacement of 106 tonnes, suitable for use in inshore waters and in average weather. Designated MHCAT (mine-hunting catamaran), the prototype is a revolutionary step away from accepted navy de rejects any dialogue about other people also detained.

"Time is moving quickly and unfortunately there is not much of it left." "In truth. I feel a- little abandoned by you," said Mr Moro, who said he was being put on trial by the guerillas as a figurehead for three decades of Christian Democratic1 rule. "Morally, you arc here in my position, but physically it is me." said the 61-ycar-old politician. The letter was accompanied by a communique from the brigades, who kidnapped Mr Moro nearly three weeks ago Italian PM Moro plea after killing his five guards in a street battle. The communique demanded the release of "all communist prisoners," without naming any of them or saying what would happen if the ransom was not.

met, There arc almost 300 leftist militants in Italian jails, 15 of them Red Brigades members on trial in Turin. Police sources said it was highly unlikely that the Government would change its mind. It has full backing from the powerful communists and other parties which keep it in ROME, Wednesday. -In a dramatic appeal released by the urban guerillas holding him, the former Premier Mr Aldo Moro has urged his friends in politics to free him. But the Prime Minister; Mr Andreotti, has rejected any attempts by the Red Brigades gang to blackmail his Government into releasing the prisoners they want.

Mr Moro said in the letter to leaders of his Christian Democratic Party: "I am a political prisoner who is placed in an untenable position by your brusque decision to stop.