THE SILVER CITY SENTINEL The Voice of the Silver City

Saturday, 4 December 1943 | Page 1

LOCAL MINING OUTPUT EXCEEDS ALL TRANSPORT RECORDS

Discrepancy of 2,000 Tonnes Puzzles Rail Officials

Night Shift Operations Under Review

By William Mackenzie, Senior Mining Correspondent

BROKEN HILL - An internal audit has revealed that ore extraction from Broken Hill's mines has exceeded documented rail transport capacity by more than 2,000 tonnes over the past quarter, raising serious questions about production records.

The discrepancy, discovered during routine reconciliation of extraction reports with railway manifests, represents nearly 15% of total quarterly output.

Mr Douglas Hartley, speaking for Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, attributed the variance to "clerical inconsistencies common during accelerated wartime production." However, sources within the Barrier Industrial Council suggest otherwise.

"The boys are pulling more ore out than ever before," said one shift supervisor who requested anonymity. "But when you check what's loaded on the trains to Port Pirie, the numbers don't tally. We're talking about enough material to fill dozens of railway cars."

RESTRICTED SECTIONS

Workers report that certain mine sections now require special authorisation for access. The entire Level Five of the North Mine has been sealed, officially for "safety inspections," though veteran miners dispute this explanation.

"I was down there not three months past and it was sound as houses," claimed one eighteen-year veteran. "Now you need written permission from management just to walk past the barriers."

Several workers who questioned these arrangements have been reassigned or relocated. At least three foremen have taken unexpected "personal leave" after raising concerns about undocumented extraction activities.

Night shift workers report being redirected from traditional areas to newly opened sections without explanation. Certain work crews have been required to sign additional confidentiality agreements prohibiting them from discussing assignments even with family members.

"My husband comes home and won't say a word about what he's been doing," said Mrs Patricia Brennan of Thomas Street. "Thirty years married, and suddenly he can't tell me about his work day. Says he's sworn to secrecy for the war effort, but what war secrets could there be in pulling lead out of the ground?"

TRANSPORT ANOMALIES

Railway workers have identified another puzzle. Despite record extraction levels reported by mining companies, the number of ore cars dispatched from Broken Hill has actually decreased by 8% compared to last quarter.

"We're moving less cargo than last year," explained a goods yard supervisor. "Yet the mines claim they're producing more than ever. Where's it all going? It's not in the storage sheds."

Several night-time "special trains" have been observed leaving Broken Hill yards without appearing on official schedules. These trains, composed of unmarked carriages, reportedly bypass usual weighing stations and documentation checkpoints.

Mr Robert Clarkson, District Railway Controller, stated all movements are properly recorded, calling suggestions of undocumented transport "utterly without foundation." He declined to explain why railway employees have been instructed not to discuss these special services.

OFFICIAL SILENCE

The implementation of new security measures coincides with the arrival of unnamed "government inspectors" who have established permanent presence at the mines. These officials refuse to identify their department, conducting private meetings with management and reviewing normally accessible production records.

BHP's regional management issued only a brief statement asserting "full compliance with wartime production requirements and Commonwealth regulations," failing to address tonnage discrepancies or security measures.

Local Member Mr James Morrison promised to raise the matter in Parliament but cautioned against "spreading alarm during these difficult times." His office later clarified no formal investigation would be requested until the current audit completes—a process taking several months.

The Barrier Industrial Council demands immediate transparency. "Our boys are breaking their backs for the war effort," said Council President Thomas McGrath. "They deserve honest accounting of their work and clear explanations. If there's nothing to hide, why all the secrecy?"

The Broken Hill discrepancies follow similar reports from other industrial centres. Sources within the Commonwealth Department of Supply privately express concern about "systemic documentation failures" across strategic industries, though no official investigation has been announced.

The Silver City Sentinel will continue investigating these irregularities. Citizens with information about undocumented mining activities or unusual transport operations are encouraged to contact our newsroom in confidence.

- Additional photographs and documentation on Page 3.

[Editor's Note: This edition was recalled by government order. Copy preserved for historical record.]