Document xOb068B0GE398yVdG42jqGaG

PRIVATE KO. SO MWHTt lth Bovesber, 1946. The Manager, Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd EITTCTOOtt. Bear Sir, GENERAL PlFsDCRESS. We consider tre have nor reached a stage in' our negotietions with the W.A. Covernaent when we can proceed on the assuaption that we will eventually receive the lull support we have requested. This neans in effect that *e will go ahead on our twelve conths* progr&aae end then review the matter again when that tine has elapsed. In view of this we can now advise you of our decisions on a lumber of natters# Mine Manager. We have engaged a nine Manager for Wittenooa and we expect hia to report for duty in Sydney about 1st December# Be is`Derrick Humphreys, at present Inspector of Mines at Broken Hill. Mr# Humphreys will have full charge of all mining operations at Wttenoosu .'Sc will correspond direct with the Managing Director and sill also forward e weekly report to hi but such correspondence and re ports will be forwarded through you* He will have the . right to hire or dismiss his own en subject, of course, to over-riding considerations of policy. j~ Is tar as supplies for the mine are concerned it will probably be best if the T Mine Manager requisitions on your store for materials and the supplies sill then either be delivered froa store or purchased by the store for the Mine in the ordinary way* IHesol Lo coast!ve (5491 It will be in order for you to proceed with the null ding of an addit ional diesel locoaotive end you should forward en estimated or cost as soon as possible eo that a Capital Expenditure Form. *. for this unit may be approved* . /*;* *0 >A "TO-1 WV-03849 Battery locomotive. Mr. Bowdler considered you should have second_hattery i'or your locoslive to enable It to operate on e two shift basis* If you agree you should proceed to purchase a battery* Hew Eoulpsent* Apart front the additional loco motive and battery mentioned-above, we do not propose to commence purchasing new equipaent, particularly for the nine, until the new Mine Manager is in a position to give his opinion on what additional plant is desirable or necessary. Probably Mr* Humphrey will be in this position after.having spent say a oonth et Kittefioos and we. can then set out to plan, in detail, our plant requireneats to give us the production capacity and the production costs that we require* Stores and Sosre Parts* is you Imow our pro gramme for the next twelve oaths allows for the stocking at ffittenoos of twelve months1 supplies of stores end spare parts. * Shis purchasing prograaoe can be commenced immediately in respect of plant and equipment that we have nos. Ho prevision esn yet be nade for the new equipment we cay purchase, of course. The quantity of supplies and spares required should be assessed on the basis that we wait twelve nonths* stock on hand allotting for Dining et the rate of 5000 tons fibre per annum* Labour* Our aim is to operate two full shifts in the nine, working all available places to get gaxiaun production and you oty proceed to engage labour accordingly* we iaa^inc that you will not have engaged enough sen to operate two shifts before Mr, HusphTnys arrives and hence the question of an additional shift supervisor in the nine will probably not arise before Ur. Humphreys takes ovst. The mill, of course, will operate what ever hours ere pecess&ry to keep up with mine output but for soae tise at least, this should oeaa only one shift operation* W. A.B. A- Assets* As you know we hold an option for throe sooths over tue assets of W.A.B.A* Ltd* We would like you to assess the value to us of the plant and equipment owned by W.A.B.A* in laapire Gorge end 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 T..A.L.A. leases* Blent for Lodges* If we exercise our option to purchase the W.A.B.A. assets it appears that ire could work the . ledges in Walters Gorge on a reasonable basis from a cost W0*5*.?/ view* To do so* however, we believe an additional bulldozer wu-i 'c .t 'S * >. .'r\'u * U*'* '-w < l- be necessary and in view of your past cements we think we should purchase a larger model than the one now at Kittenooa. Our idea would be to purchase a 177 Caterpillar tractor fitted *rith bulldozer equipment and we would ask if you agree with this. If we are to obtain such plant can you purchase it from Western Australia or do you consider it best for us to buy the unit here and ship it over ourselves? Ti Tf we take over the leases of W.A.B.A. it should be practicable to nine at Yaapire also to do a certain amount of ledge stripping. We have advised a Mr. Ked-r mond liiat if we decide to operate at yaapire, he will be appointed Mine Manager at Inspire and will be in full 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 Eittenoon. Whether we work both sine and ledges and what equipment we nay need if we do work the ledges we will leave for decision until Ur. Redmond has taken up his positior and has reported to us. Staff. Generally we consider all staff necessary for A.B.A. Ltd. should be obtained by you directly and not by endeavouring to obtain C.S.B. Co. Ltd. staff. This does not appl;s to key jobs such as Chief Engineer and Accountant of course. He NLhould 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 alooirician and -a draught man and we will leave you to engage suitable men. In addition, we feel you probably want a good men in Perth (probably with engineering training) to purchase plant and aterial, arrange for shipping space etc. and if you agree to this we suggest you endeav our to locate a suitable an. In view of our programme a really good storeaan at tfittenoo appears very necessary also. Mine T.avout. A1 thou eh 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 coasenting fully on proposed ine layouts. In the aeantiae, 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 Witteaoo. Tv Yours faithfully,