MELBOURNE BUILDING STRIKE.

Evening Star, Issue 13012, 5 January 1907, Page 8

MELBOURNE BUILDING STRIKE.

[SPBCIAIi to the Stab,] OTRISTCHTJRCH, January 5. The Hon. Mr Knox, who has had some connection with the strike in the building trade in Melbourne, being appointed! with several other gentlemen- to try to arrange for a termination to the trouble, states' that the only point in dispute is the number of hours. The men ask for_ forty-four hours a, week, and the masters insist upon retaining the forty-eight hours. It is proposed to call in tho assistance of the Wages Board in Melbourne. The builders said.they would not appeal against the Board's decision, but stipulated that the workers should go back to work on the forty-eight hours' basis. The workers declined to do that, and have maintained that position, although the leaders of the Labor party-interfered, and arranged for a conference, which the workers would not attend. Tho strike had spreadall through the building trade of Melbourne, and into the suburbs, and tho saw-mills in the country had been dragged into it. Mr Knox say 3 that the Wages Board suggested aj settlement that was considered fair and equitable, and he does not think that public sympathy, is wholly with the men.