Document pmKeyYovGRV21bb8JQEyr8r6j

| PLAINTIFF'S i EXHIBIT I CSR-21 PRIVATE h'O. SO SIDNEY. 12th November, 1946. The Manager, Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd., WITTEHOOM. Dear Sir, GESERAL PROGRESS. We consider we have now reached a stage in our negotiations with the iff.A. Government when we can proceed on the assumption that we will eventually receive the full support we have requested. This means in effect that we will go ahead on our twelve months1 programme and then review the matter again when that time has elapsed. In view of this we can now advise you of our decisions on a number of matters* Mine Manager. We have engaged a Mine Manager for fflttenoom ana we expect him to report for duty in Sydney about 1st December* He is Derrick Humphreys, at present Inspector of Mines at Broken Hill* Mr* Humphreys will have full charge of all mining operations at Wittenoom* He will correspond direct with the Managing Director and will also forward a weekly report to him but such correspondence and re ports will be forwarded through you* He will have the right to hire or dismiss his own men subject, of course, to over-riding considerations of policy* As fir as supplies for the mine are concerned it will probably be best if the Mine Manager requisitions on your store for materials and the supplies will then either be delivered from store or purchased by the store for the Mine in the ordinary way* Diesel Locomotive (349) It will be in order for you to proceed with the building of an addit ional diesel locomotive and you should forward an estimated cost as soon as possible so that a Capital Expenditure Form for thi* unit may be approved* Fattury Locomotive. :ir. iiowdler considero:i you should .*< vs. o second i.-.tv-ry :or your ioccsctiv to on:; tie it to operate on z. two smit Lcs.is. IT yc: ..z? w; you o:;oul`; ccoceeu to purch-.se t. battery. New licuignent. Apart Are.. tne eaditional loco motive- '.'.no ba ttery mc-n tio:iea a cove, w-o do riot propose to commence purd-iesing new oquipa.nt, particularly for the :uinuntil the now 2lne Manager is in a position to givr his opinion on what :-ddLtion;-l pleat is desirable or necessary* ^robr-bly .Hr* Humphreys will be in this position A tor having spent say a month at Wittenooni and we can then set out to plan, in detail, our plant require ments to give us the- .reduction capacity and the oroduction costs th:. t we require. Stores .and Spare Parts. As you know our pro gramme for the next twelve months allows for the stocking at Wittenoc:- of twelve months* supplies of stores *nd spare parts. This purchasing programme can b- commenced immediately in respect of plant and equipment th? t we n- ve now. No provision can yet be r.acio for tiie new f.;uip:_ent vro may purchase, of course.- The quantity of supplies and spares required should be assessed on the basis that we want twelve months* stock on nand allowing for mining at the rate of 3000 tons fibre pur annum* Labour. Our aim is to operate two full shifts in the mine, working all available places to get maximum production and you may proceed to engage labour accordingly. we imagine that you will not nave engaged enough men to operate two shifts before Hr. Humphreys arrives and hence the question of an additional shift supervisor in the mine will probably not arise before Hr* Humphreys takes over. The mill, of course, will operate what ever hours are necess-try to keep up with mine output but for some time at least, this should mean only one shift operation. W*A*fl.A* Assets* As you know we hold an option for three months over the assets of W.A.B.A. Ltd. We wuld like you to assess the value to us of the plant and equipment owned by w.A*B*A* in Zaaplre Gorge and in Walters Gorge and advise us as soon as possible* We should also be glad to have your idea of the value to us of obtaining the W*A*1*A* leases* Plant for Ledges* If we exercise our option to purchase the w*a*B*a7 assets it appears that we could work the ledges in Walters Gorge on a reasonable basis from a cost point of view. To do so, however, we believe on additional bulldozer will oo necessary and in view of your past consent? .ve to ini we s .ould purcnase a larger .r.occi ti.cn tne one now at .Vitteaoom. Our idea would be to purchase a D7 Caterpillar tractor fitted with bulldozer equipment and wo woulu. ask. if you agree with this. If we are to obtain sucii plant can'you : :rchase it from Western Australia or do you consider it best for us to buy tne unit here raid ship it over ourselves? Ysungire~Gorge. If we take over the leases of A'.A.E.A. it should be practicable to mine at Yampire also to do a certain amount of ledge stripping. We nave advised a Mr. Red mond that if we decide to operate at Yampire, he will be appointed dine Manager at Yampire and will be in foil charge of mining op erations there. Although he will not receive as high a salary as Mr. Humphreys in other respects his position at Yaapire will be identical with that of Mr. Humphreys at Wittenoom. Whether we work both mine and ledges and what equipment we may need if we do work the ledges we will leave for decision until Mr. Redmond has taken up his position and has reported to us. Staff. Generally we consider all staff necessary for A.B.A. Ltd. should be obtained by you directly and aot by endeavouring to obtain C.S.R. Co. Ltd. staff. This does not apply to key jobs such as Chief Engineer and Accountant of course. We should be glad of your views, in due course, as to what additional staff is needed for our programme but you have already mentioned a surveyor, an electrician and. a draughts man and we will leave you to engage suitable men. In addition, we feel you probably want a good man in Perth (probably with engineering training) to purchase plant and material, arrange for shipping space etc. and if you agrae to this we suggest you endeav our to locate a suitable man. In view of our programme a really good storeman at Wittenoom appears very necessary also. Mine Layout* Although we have had discussions with Mr. Bowdler since his return we have not yet received his report and we will wait until we receive this before commenting fully on proposed mine layouts* In the meantime, of course, you will proceed with the general alyout already agreed to and also with any modifications suggested by Mr. Bowdler to you whilst he was at Wittenoom. Yours faithfully, cr/ *' ' ' Or Managing Director.