FOR PRESS

N.D.. 31

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR NATIONAL  '  DEVELOPMENT

B.ll.F. TO B U Y  CLUTHA'S BUBEAGORANG COAL PROPERTIES

Ã¢ÂÂ   .  Commenting on the announcement that subject to the

approval of the New South Vales G o v e r n m e n t , B.H.P. was to

purchase the coal mining properties now owned by Clutha and

its Associates in and near the Burragorang Valley, the  .  Â·  ^

Minister for National Deve lopment Sir Reginald Swartz said.

"I welcome this dec ision by B.H.P. as an expression of confidence

i n  the underground coal mining industry- of New South W a l e s . I

believe the N.S.V. industry has an important future both for

local production and for e x p o r t .

In my recent discussions w i t h  the Japanese companies

which are the co-ordinators for the purchase of coals from N.S.V/.,

I was advised that N.S.V. coals are highly regarded by the .

Japanese steel industry and that the Japanese steel mills will

continue to purchase N.S.V. .  ÃÂ¿ÃÂ¿ÃÂµÃÂ¹ÃÂ.1 1  Ã¢ÂÂ

CANBERRA

June 23 1972

