Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement Act 1974 (WA)

Western Australia Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement Act 1974 Western Australia Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement Act 1974 Contents 1. Short title 1 2. Interpretation 1 3. Ratification of Agreement 2 3A. Approval and ratification of the First Variation Agreement 2 3B. Approval and ratification of the Third Variation Agreement 2 First Schedule — Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement Second Schedule — First Variation Agreement Third Schedule — Third Variation Agreement Notes Compilation table 58 Defined terms Western Australia Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement Act 1974 An Act to ratify an Agreement between the State and Agnew Clough Limited and Mt. Dempster Pty. Ltd. providing for the sale of the undertakings and business maintained and carried on on behalf of the State at Wundowie; to amend the Wood Distillation and Charcoal Iron and Steel Industry Act 1943 2; and for purposes connected therewith. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement Act 1974 1. 2. Interpretation In this Act unless the contrary intention appears — the Agreement means the Agreement a copy of which is set out in the First Schedule to this Act, but if the Agreement is amended in accordance with its provisions includes the Agreement as so amended from time to time, and, except for the purposes of section 3, a reference to the Agreement shall be construed as a reference to the Agreement as from time to time altered pursuant to the First Variation Agreement, the Second Variation Agreement, and the Third Variation Agreement; the First Variation Agreement means the Variation Agreement ratified consequent upon the Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement Act Amendment Act 1977, a copy of which is set out in the Second Schedule to this Act; the Second Variation Agreement means the Variation Agreement dated 26 September 1978, entered into and laid upon the Table of each House of Parliament pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of clause 21 of the Agreement and not disallowed by either House; the Third Variation Agreement means the Variation Agreement ratified consequent upon the Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement Act Amendment Act 1979, a copy of which is set out in the Third Schedule to this Act. [Section 2 inserted: No. 11 of 1979 s. 2.] 3. Ratification of Agreement The Agreement is hereby ratified. 3A. Approval and ratification of the First Variation Agreement The First Variation Agreement is approved and ratified. [Section 3A inserted: No. 11 of 1979 s. 3.] 3B. Approval and ratification of the Third Variation Agreement The Third Variation Agreement is approved and ratified. [Section 3B inserted: No. 11 of 1979 s. 4.] [4. Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).] [Heading deleted: No. 19 of 2010 s. 42(2).] First Schedule — Wundowie Charcoal Iron Industry Sale Agreement [s. 2] [Heading amended: No. 19 of 2010 s. 4.] THIS AGREEMENT is made the 14th day of November One thousand nine hundred and seventy four BETWEEN THE HONOURABLE SIR CHARLES WALTER MICHAEL COURT O.B.E. M.L.A. Premier of the State of Western Australia acting for and on behalf of the said State and instrumentalities thereof from time to time (hereinafter called "the State") of the first part AGNEW CLOUGH LIMITED a company incorporated under the Companies Act 1961 of the said State and having its registered office therein at 22 Mount Street Perth (hereinafter called "the Company" which expression will include the successors and assigns of the Company and unless the context otherwise requires any assignee of the Company under clause 20 hereof) of the second part and MT. DEMPSTER MINING PTY. LTD. a company incorporated under the Companies Act 1961 of the said State and having its registered office therein at 22 Mount Street Perth (hereinafter called Mt. Dempster which expression will include the successors and assigns of Mt. Dempster) of the third part. WHEREAS: (1) Pursuant to the provisions of the Wood Distillation and Charcoal Iron and Steel Industry Act 1943 the Government of the State: — (a) established and since doing so has maintained and carried on certain undertakings upon the land described in the First and Second Schedules hereto for the purpose of producing charcoal and other products by any process of wood distillation and of producing charcoal iron and steel, and (b) has carried on the business of selling or using the charcoal and other products and the charcoal iron and steel produced as aforesaid; (which undertakings and business are hereinafter collectively called "the Industry"). (2) Mt. Dempster is a corporation related to the Company in terms of Section 6(5) of the Companies Act 1961 and is the registered holder and beneficial owner of the Mineral Claims (herein defined) situate in close proximity to the Industry. (3) Mt. Dempster is presently engaged in feasibility studies for the development of the Mineral Claims and the mining and treatment of ore therefrom: — (a) for the production of vanadium pentoxide (herein referred to as "Coates Stage I"); and (b) for the development of processes for the production of a range of iron and ferro alloys and other products (herein referred to as "Coates Stage II"). (4) The parties hereto, mindful of the economies and advantages which would accrue if the Industry were carried on in conjunction with Coates Stage I and any further development thereof and the eventual integration therewith of Coates Stage II and with the intent of furthering the decentralization of industry and the continuance of the Industry at Wundowie have agreed that the State will sell and the Company will purchase the Industry and the assets thereof subject to and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter contained. NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH: Interpretation 3 1. (1) In this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires: — "Act" means the Wood Distillation and Charcoal Iron and Steel Industry Act 1943; "advise" "apply" "approve" "approval" "consent" "certify" "direct" "notice" "notify" "request" or "require" means advise apply approve approval consent certify direct notice notify request or require in writing as the case may be and any inflexion or derivation of any of those words has a corresponding meaning; "Balance Sheet" means a balance sheet of the assets and liabilities of the Industry at the Sale Date audited by the Auditor General of the State and certified by him in terms of Section 30 of the Act; "BHP Agreement" means the Agreement made the 18th day of November 1960 between The Honourable David Brand M.L.A. of the one part and The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited of the other part as amended by the variation Agreement made the 23rd day of May 1973 between The Honourable John Trezise Tonkin M.L.A. of the first part and the said Company of the second part (inter alia) which Agreements were respectively ratified by Acts No. 67 of 1960 and 47 of 1973 by the Parliament of Western Australia; "Board" means the Charcoal Iron and Steel Industry Board of Management constituted under and for the purposes of the Act and when used in this Agreement means the Board having and exercising the management and control of the Industry and in addition the powers, duties and functions set out in the Act; "Coates Stage I" has the meaning ascribed to that term in recital (3) hereof; "Coates Stage I Plant" has the meaning ascribed to that term in clause 8(2) hereof; "Coates Stage II" has the meaning ascribed to that term in recital (3) hereof; "Commonwealth" means the Commonwealth of Australia and includes the Government thereof for the time being; "forest produce" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Forests Act 1918; "the Industry" has the meaning ascribed to that term in recital (1) hereof; "Loan Agreements" mean the agreements covering the loans details whereof are set out in the Seventh Schedule hereto, copies whereof have been produced to and initialled by the parties hereto for the purposes of identification; "Mineral Claims" means the mineral claims granted for the mining of vanadium and titanium particulars whereof are set out in the Sixth Schedule hereto and the ground the subject thereof and all mining rights, titles or tenements whatsoever (including any extensions and renewals thereof) whether in substitution therefor or in lieu thereof and whether relating to the same, more or less ground, as the case may be; "Minister" means the Minister in the Government of the said State for the time being responsible (under whatsoever title) for the administration of the Ratifying Act and pending the passing of that Act means the Minister for the time being holding the portfolio of Minister for Industrial Development and includes any other Minister of the Crown temporarily acting in the place of the latter Minister; "Ratifying Act" means the Act to ratify this Agreement and referred to in clause 2 hereof; "the Nominated Company" means a wholly‑owned subsidiary corporation of the Company nominated by the Company in writing to and approved by the Minister prior to the Sale Date as the purchaser of the Industry in terms of clause 5 hereof; "the Sale Date" means the date determined pursuant to clause 4(1) hereof; "this Agreement" "hereof" "herein" and "hereunder" include this Agreement as from time to time added to varied or amended. (2) Marginal notes shall not affect the interpretation or construction hereof 3. Reference in this Agreement to an Act shall include the amendments to that Act for the time being in force and also any Act passed in substitution therefor or in lieu thereof and the regulations for the time being in force thereunder. Ratification and Operation 3 2. (1) The State shall introduce and sponsor a Bill in the Parliament of Western Australia to ratify this Agreement. (2) Clauses 3 to 29 (both inclusive) of this Agreement shall not operate unless and until the Bill to ratify this Agreement as referred to in sub‑clause (1) of this clause is passed as an Act by or before the 31st day of December 1974 or such later date as the parties hereto may mutually agree upon. If the Bill is not so passed by or before that date or later date (as the case may be) this Agreement will then cease and determine and neither of the parties hereto will have any claims against the other of them with respect to any matter or thing arising out of or done performed or omitted to be done or performed under this Agreement. (3) If the Bill to ratify this Agreement is passed as an Act by or before the date or later date if any referred to in sub‑clause (2) of this clause the following provisions of this clause shall notwithstanding the provisions of any Act or law thereupon operate and take effect namely: — (a) the provisions of clauses 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 shall take effect as though the same had been brought into force and had been enacted by the Ratifying Act; (b) subject to paragraph (a) of this sub‑clause the State and the Minister respectively shall have all the powers discretions and authorities necessary or requisite to enable them to carry out and perform the powers discretions authorities and obligations conferred or imposed upon them respectively hereunder. Mt. Dempster or Company Submit Proposals 3 3. (1) Mt. Dempster or the Company (whichever of them as may submit the detailed proposals hereunder being in this clause 3 referred to as "the Proposer") will within the six (6) months commencing on the date of this Agreement or such extended time as the Minister may approve (having regard to the Proposer's endeavours and the provisions of clause 29 hereof) submit to the Minister: — (a) to the fullest extent reasonably practicable its detailed proposals, including plans where practicable and specifications where reasonably required by the Minister with respect to the development of Coates Stage I including date of commencement, quantity, manner and method of mining and treatment AND shall give to the Minister such further information plans and specifications (within a reasonable time after notice to the Proposer therefor) in respect of any matter or thing arising out of or incidental to the detailed proposals as the Minister may from time to time reasonably require; (b) satisfactory evidence: — (i) of the availability of finance necessary for the fulfilment of the detailed proposals hereunder; (ii) that any consent approval authority or certificate (necessary for finance to be made available) to be given by any person corporation authority or body (statutory or otherwise) pursuant to any Commonwealth or State law will be so given at the relevant time; and (iii) that the Proposer will be able to fulfil perform or do any requirement act matter or thing (necessary for finance to be made available) required pursuant to any Commonwealth or State law at the relevant time. Approval or Amendment Proposals 3 (2) Within two months after the Proposer has delivered to the Minister its detailed proposals and such further information plans and specifications (referred to in paragraph (a) of the preceding sub‑clause) and the evidence (referred to in paragraph (b) of the preceding sub‑clause) the Minister shall notify the Proposer: — (a) that he approves of the detailed proposals referred to in sub‑clause (1)(a) of this clause; or (b) of alterations required to the detailed proposals in which case he shall afford to the Proposer opportunity to consult with and submit new proposals to the Minister. In that notification the Minister shall disclose his reasons for such alterations. If within the twenty eight (28) days next following the receipt by the Proposer of the Minister's notification the Proposer has not submitted to the Minister new proposals or submits new proposals which the Minister does not approve of this Agreement shall cease and determine; (c) that he is satisfied with the evidence referred to in sub‑clause (1)(b) of this clause (in which case the evidence shall be deemed to be approved) or is not satisfied. In the latter case the Minister shall afford the Proposer an opportunity to consult with and to submit further evidence to him. If within the twenty eight (28) days next following the receipt by the Proposer of the Minister's notification the Proposer has not submitted to the Minister further evidence or submits further evidence which the Minister does not approve of this Agreement shall cease and determine. Sale Date 3 4. (1) The Sale Date shall be the latest of the following dates that is to say: — (a) the date of approval of the proposals referred to in clause 3(1)(a) hereof in terms of clause 3(2); (b) the date of approval of the evidence referred to in clause 3(1)(b) hereof in terms of clause 3(2); (c) the date the Ratifying Act is passed as an Act; or (d) the 1st day of January 1975. Cancellation of dedication 3 (2) On or from time to time after the Sale Date for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of clause 7(1) hereof: — (a) the Governor by notice published in the Government Gazette shall cancel the dedication of all land which has been dedicated to the purposes of the Act, and (b) the State notwithstanding the provisions of any Act or law will transfer to the Company an estate in fee simple free of all trusts in the lands described in the First Schedule hereto and grant an estate in fee simple free of all trusts in the lands described in the Second Schedule hereto or any other reserve or any Crown land which at the date of this Agreement is required or used for the Industry subject to the encumbrances respectively notified against those lands. Mt. Dempster Covenants Mineral Claims 3 (3) Mt. Dempster for itself and its transferees and successors in title of the Mineral Claims HEREBY COVENANTS with the State and with the Company to the intent that the covenants enure to the benefit of the Company and its transferees successors and assigns of and others claiming under them to the land and being Avon Location 27073 now the subject of reserve 22605: — (a) not to surrender or permit the Mineral Claims to be surrendered other than for the ground the subject thereof to be applied for by Mt. Dempster or the Company as a mineral lease or mineral leases; (b) duly and punctually to observe perform and comply with the provisions of all Acts statutory rules and ordinances (both Federal and State) insofar as they are applicable to the Mineral Claims; (c) not to do or permit to be done any act matter or thing whereby the Mineral Claims or any of them may be or become liable to be forfeited or cancelled; (d) not to assign charge mortgage lease or dispose of the Mineral Claims or any estate or interest therein without the written consent of the Minister and subject in the case of an assignment transfer or sub‑lease to the assignee transferee or sub‑lessee (as the case requires) first executing a deed of covenant (in a form approved by the Minister) containing covenants with the State and the Company identical with the covenants stated in this sub‑clause; (e) (i) to do and permit the Company to do all those acts matters and things; and (ii) to comply with observe and perform and permit the Company to comply with observe and perform all the provisions hereof relating to or concerning the Mineral Claims and which are required to be done or performed thereon by the Company to enable it to duly and punctually observe perform or comply with its obligations under this Agreement. Sale by State to Company 3 5. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement the State shall on the Sale Date for the consideration set out in sub‑clause (3) of this clause sell and assign or cause to be sold and assigned to the Company or to the Nominated Company (as the case may be) and the Company or the Nominated Company shall purchase and take over on a going concern basis as at the Sale Date the Industry and all of its real and personal assets whatsoever and wheresoever situate including without limitation the following: — (a) an estate in fee simple free of encumbrances (save as mentioned in the First Schedule) in the lands described in the First and Second Schedules together with all fixtures and improvements thereon; (b) the plant, machinery, tools, apparatus, and equipment particulars of which or some of which are set out in the Third Schedule hereto; (c) stock on hand and on consignment; (d) stores and raw materials on hand; (e) the rights and obligations of the Board pursuant to clause 12 of the BHP Agreement and the Board's plant and equipment installed on and about the leased areas mentioned in that clause; (f) the benefit of the contracts or agreements relating to the Industry particulars whereof are set out in the Fourth Schedule; (g) the benefit of all permits licences forest leases and other privileges granted under the Forests Act 1918 subsisting at the Sale Date and particulars whereof are set out in the Fifth Schedule; (h) debts due to the Board and cheques bills or notes or securities for the same together with all cash in hand or at bank; (i) books of account, books of reference to customers and other records of the Industry; (j) all policies of insurance of any kind (subject where necessary to the consent of the insurer); (k) patents, patent rights and rights to processes; but excluding any special rights power immunities privileges and authorities of the Minister or the Board or enjoyed by them or either of them by virtue of or pursuant to the provisions of the Act. (2) The Company shall not be entitled to make any objections or requisitions in relation to any of the property hereby sold and purchased after the day preceding the Sale Date. Consideration 3 (3) As and by way of consideration for the purchase of the property hereby sold and purchased the Company shall: — (a) on the respective due dates for payment duly and punctually pay satisfy and discharge all the current and deferred liabilities of the Board (including penalties operating liabilities of the Board superannuation payments and all rates taxes assessments rents permit and licence fees royalties insurance premiums and other outgoings assessed or payable in respect of any property the subject of transfer or assignment to the Company hereunder) subsisting at the Sale Date and as disclosed by the Balance Sheet; (b) on the day prior to the respective due dates for payment thereof duly and punctually pay to the Board amounts equal to the amounts which the Board is required to pay in satisfaction of instalments of principal and interest in respect of the several loans made to the Board (details of which are set out in the Seventh Schedule hereto) in conformity with the terms and conditions respectively set out in the Loan Agreements; (c) pay to the State the sum of THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($390 000) free of interest on or before the expiration of six (6) years commencing on the Sale Date; (d) accept the obligation to discharge all employee entitlements accrued as at the close of business on the day prior to the Sale Date as are transmitted to or assumed by the Company in accordance with the terms of engagement agreed between the Company and those of the Board's employees as may accept the Company's offer of employment pursuant to the terms of clause 9(a) hereof. In this Agreement "employee entitlements" include annual leave, long service leave, sick pay, superannuation or pension benefits salaries and wages and "employee" shall not include any member of the Board other than a member who on the day prior to the Sale Date was receiving or was entitled to receive any employee entitlements. Nominated Company Covenants 3 (4) Should a Nominated Company purchase the real and personal assets of the Industry in terms of subclause (1) of this clause 5 it shall subscribe and adhere to this Agreement by Deed made with the State to the effect that the Nominated Company (which expression shall include any of its permitted successors transferees and assigns and their respective permitted successors transferees and assigns): — (a) shall perform observe and comply with and be bound by all the covenants agreements obligations and provisions on the part of the Company expressed or implied in this Agreement to the intent that those covenants agreements and obligations shall be binding upon the Nominated Company in the same manner and to the same extent as if the Nominated Company were expressly named herein in lieu of the Company; and (b) shall be or be deemed to be entitled to the benefit of all representations and warranties expressed hereunder by the State in favour of the Company and to exercise and enjoy all such rights, benefits, powers and privileges as are granted to or conferred upon the Company under this Agreement to the intent that those rights benefits and advantages may be exercised and enjoyed by the Nominated Company in the same manner and to the same extent as if it were expressly named herein in lieu of the Company. Hereafter in this Agreement wherever the context requires any reference to the Company shall include or be deemed to refer to the Nominated Company. Allocation of consideration 3 (5) On the Sale Date (or as soon thereafter as it is available) the State shall deliver a true copy of the Balance Sheet to the Company with such supporting statements or notes as may be requisite or necessary or which the Company may reasonably request in explanation thereof and shall by writing state the total consideration payable by the Company pursuant to the provisions of sub‑clause (3) of this clause and shall after consultation with the Company agree with the Company an allocation of the consideration thus determined to the several items of property sold and purchased in terms of this clause 5. Company to remain liable 3 (6) Notwithstanding anything contained in or anything done under or pursuant to sub‑clause (1) of this clause by the Nominated Company the Company shall at all times during the currency of this Agreement be and remain liable for the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and agreements on its part contained herein. (7) On the Sale Date the Company shall be entitled to possession of all property purchased in terms of this Agreement. AND the Company shall at all times indemnify and keep indemnified the Crown in right of the State of Western Australia the Minister and the Board against all actions proceedings and claims and demands arising out of or incidental to or in respect of any liability principal moneys instalments interest act matter or thing referred to in this clause 5. State Warranty 3 6. The State REPRESENTS WARRANTS AND AGREES with the Company as follows: — (a) that the Balance Sheet and supporting accounts of the Industry as at the Sale Date are or will be true and correct in every respect and have been or will be prepared in accordance with usual accounting concepts and practices on a consistent basis and duly audited by the Auditor General of the State and that the same exhibit or will exhibit a true and fair view of the assets and liabilities of the Industry as at the date thereof and that full disclosure has been or shall be made of all liabilities present and contingent of the Industry and of all material changes that have taken place in the financial position of the Industry during the period covered thereby; (b) that the property sold or assigned to the Company in terms of clause 5 is the sole and absolute property of the State and that save as herein stated or disclosed the same is sold free from all charges liens and encumbrances whatsoever or the rights interests or claims of third parties; (c) that other than as disclosed in the Balance Sheet or otherwise by express disclosure there are no contracts agreements arrangements acknowledgments liabilities or obligations of any kind whether actual or contingent incurred or entered into or agreed to be incurred or entered into by or on behalf of the Industry as at the Sale Date; (d) that the Loan Agreements are at the date hereof in good standing and that the State is not in default in terms of any of them and that all payments of principal and interest due to the date hereof have been met and will be met up to and including the Sale Date; (e) that from and after the Sale Date the State will cause the Board to continue in being and to pay and discharge all instalments of principal moneys and interest thereon as and when the same fall due for payment in terms of the Loan Agreements until such time as the loans the subject of the Loan Agreements have either been repaid novated in favour of the Company or otherwise renegotiated by or with the consent of the Company; (f) that so long as any moneys remain owing by the Board in terms of the Loan Agreements or any of them the Treasurer's Guarantee thereof will remain in full force and effect; (g) that the lease agreements relating to plant and equipment particulars whereof are set out in the Fourth Schedule hereto are at the date hereof in good standing and of full force and effect and all payments due thereunder have been met and all payments for the time being falling due up to and including the Sale Date will be met. Obligation of State to Transfer Assets to Company 3 7. (1) The State will for the consideration aforesaid as to soon as conveniently may be after the Sale Date: — (a) transfer and convey or cause to be transferred and conveyed to the Company an estate in fee simple in the land described in the First Schedule hereto; (b) grant or cause to be granted to the Company an estate in fee simple in the lands described in the Second Schedule hereto; (c) assign or cause to be assigned to the Company the Board's right title and interest in the agreements and contracts described in the Fourth Schedule hereto; (d) assign or cause to be assigned to the Company the right title and interest of the Board in the permits licences and forest leases described in the Fifth Schedule hereto subject to the conditions and provisions under which they have been respectively granted, the Forests Act 1918 and to the consent of the Conservator of Forests as therein provided; (2) The Company covenants to take over and accept the obligations of the Board under the instruments referred to in paragraphs (c) and (d) of subclause (1) hereof and shall discharge comply with and observe those obligations and the Company shall at all times indemnify and keep indemnified the Crown in right of the State of Western Australia the Minister and the Board against all actions proceedings and claims and demands arising out of or incidental to or in respect of any of those instruments. Obligation of Company to Continue Production of Charcoal Iron 3 8. (1) The Company shall: — (a) continue to carry on at Wundowie the production of pig iron for a period of not less than six (6) years commencing on and from the Sale Date at an average monthly rate of not less than two thousand five hundred (2 500) tonnes; (b) use its best endeavours during such period aforesaid to develop and expand the Industry; Construction Coates Stage I 3 (2) Mt. Dempster or the Company shall within the twelve (12) months next following the Sale Date commence to erect and thereafter will diligently continue to proceed with the construction and establishment, or cause the erection to be commenced and thereafter the construction and establishment to be diligently proceeded with of a plant (on the land described in the First or Second Schedules hereto or on or near the land the subject of the Mineral Claims) designed to produce and capable of producing not less than one million kilograms (1,000,000 kg) of vanadium pentoxide per annum and shall within the thirty (30) months next following the Sale Date complete the construction and establishment of that plant on the said land and provide thereon all necessary ancillary buildings works plant equipment and services for the production of vanadium pentoxide ("the Coates Stage I Plant") AND within the thirty six (36) months next following the Sale Date commence and thereafter diligently continue to produce marketable quantities of vanadium pentoxide. Proposals Coates Stage II 3 (3) During the currency of this Agreement Mt. Dempster or the Company shall diligently continue with a feasibility study for the development of Coates Stage II and within a reasonable time after the first second third and fourth anniversary of the Sale Date Mt. Dempster or the Company will report to the Minister the progress of the feasibility study made in the year preceding each of those anniversaries AND before the expiration of the five (5) years next following the Sale Date Mt. Dempster or the Company shall submit to the Minister to the fullest extent reasonably practicable its detailed proposals including plans where practicable and specifications there reasonably required by the Minister with respect to the development of Coates Stage II. Maintenance of Employment 3 9. The Company will: — (a) accept the transfer to its employ or offer employment to all employees of the Board engaged in the Industry as at the close of business on the day prior to the Sale Date at salary or wage rates not less than those applicable to such employees respectively as at such date. (b) accept responsibility for all employee entitlements in respect of those of the Board's employees transferring to the Company's employ or accepting the Company's offer of employment aforesaid the liability wherefor is transmitted to or assumed by the Company pursuant to the terms of Clause 5(3)(d). (c) at all times from and after the Sale Date and during the currency of this Agreement use its best endeavours to maintain in employment at or near Wundowie a like number of persons as are there employed by the Board on the day immediately preceding the Sale Date. State's Assistance to Company 3 10. To ensure the continuance at Wundowie of the production of charcoal and pig iron and to encourage the development of electric furnace capacity for pig iron and ferro alloy production (subject to clause 14 hereof) the State will use its best endeavours where and to the extent reasonably practicable to ameliorate difficulties caused by the location of the Industry and in particular will: — Raw Materials 3 (a) assist the Company in obtaining access to supplies of coal and in any application for deposits of sandstone limestone iron ore and other raw materials reasonably required by the Company for the production of pig iron and steel, for the treatment of ore from the Mineral Claims, for the production of ferro alloys or for any operation carried on by the Board prior to the Sale