TIMBER STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 183, 1 May 1929, Page 11

TIMBER STRIKE

EMPLOYERS’ STEP TO FORCE SETTLEMENT BUILDING JOBS SHUT DOW SEVEN THOUSAND MEN RENDERED IDLE (United Prees Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Melbourne, April 30. The employers have taken a step to force a settlement of the timber strike. Every building job in the metropolitan area was shut down at 5 p.m. by order of the Master Builders’ Federation of Victoria, throwing 7000 men idle. There will be no resumption until building trade unionists agree to handle “black” timber or until the strike is settled. It is expected that a further 5000 men in auxiliary trades will be out of work by the end of the week. ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SETTLE DISPUTE (Rec. April 30, 9 p.m.) Melbourne, April 30. The Lord Mayor of Melbourne and a. committee are trying to settle the timber dispute. It is understood the Trades Union Council is prepared to met the employers’ representatives providing the conference is unconditional. BRUTAL ASSAULT ON TIMBER WORKER LEFT FOR DEAD IN STREET Sydney, April 30. Punched and kicked into insensibility and left for dead in the street was the fate of Morris Reid, 38, a timber worker assaulted at Glebe. Reid’s skull was fractured and he may not recover. This latest attack brings the roll of victims to twenty. The condition of some who are still in hospital is serious. FACTIONAL FIGHTS RIOTOUS SCENES AT TRADES HALL (Rec. April 30, 11,45 p.m.) Melbourne, April 30. There were riotous scenes at the Trades Hall, Melbourne, this . afternoon, when 3000 strikers gathered in a quadrangle, where addresses were delivered. Interjections and violent threats culminated in free fights, fists flying in all directions, and the speakers were hurled from the platforms. This was due to rival factions, one of which desired peace negotiations with the I,ord Mafbr.

THE COAL STOPPAGE MINERS’ PROPOSALS BEFORE CABINET Sydney, April 30. The coalminers' counter-proposals will be considered to-day by the State Cabinet, but the men fear rejection, in which event a long fight is anticipated. Various gasworks report that supplies of coal are ample, and the railways are able to secure all the coal they require from their own mine and non-associat-ed workings. [One of the counter-proposals of the Combined Mining Industry Unions is as follows:—“The mines shall be reopened on a pre-dispute basis, with a Royal Commission to inquire into the industry, such Commission to make an award on the figures before it to which the miners agree to be bound.”]