TIMBER DISPUTE

Grey River Argus, 14 May 1929, Page 5

TIMBER DISPUTE

MASS MEETING. " ■

Steps to Prevent Blacklegging (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) MELBOURNE, Alay 13. The secretary of the Victorian Branch of the Seamen’s Union (Air O’Neill) told a mass meeting organised by the timber workers, tha: Melbourne was soon to experience a state of siege. He hoped 20,000 men would participate in a Alarch on Friday night. Nothing would be done that was not lawful, “but we will effectually prevent the transaction of business, and ihe police will have no alternative but to declare a state of iege.”

Employers Stop Conferences.

(Anstralian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received May 13. at 9.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE May 13. The employers’ representatives have decided to inform the Prime Minister of Victoria, (Mr McPherson,) that no good purpose could be served by any fu.ther conference with the timber strikers’ .representmtives, saying the terms already offered by the employers and rejected by the men were as generous as could be made.

THE BOSSES’ VERSION.

SYDNEY. May 13

Mr Corke, secretary of th? Timber Merchants’ Association, said that at the completion of the fourteenth week of the strike, there are 1547 men employed in Sydney and suburban yards, and mills working under the new award. Some yards are fully manned. More men are being employed daily, and if the strike continues much longer. a new union will be built up. Strike allowances of £- a week are inadequate, many easts of acute distress are reported. BUILDERS WANT MOKE WORKERS. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) MELBOURNE, May 13. Appealing to Premier McPherson to settle the dispute as it effected the building industry a deputation from the Melbourne Master Builders’ Association gave assurances that if the men were willing to return to work under a guarantee of continuity of service, the Association youfd undertake to find employment for ten thousand builders operatives on Monday. This number represents an increase of twenty-five per cent on the number employed before the trouble began

They also indicated that there was a likelihood of work being found for an additional four thousand within a week.