TIMBER WORKERS’ DISPUTE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 January 1929, Page 5

TIMBER WORKERS’ DISPUTE

HOURS IN AUSTRALIA.

JUDGE APPEALS TO REASON. MEN’S POLICY SUICIDAL. • i.iteu Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) lAusiraliaii Cress Association.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 23. In the Arbitration Court to-day, Judge L. 0. Lukin made the final vital clauses in the timber workers’ award, substituting 48 for 44 hours a, w-eek. He expressed regret that the union representatives should 1 see fit to hold aloof, .and added that if the majority of the union members exercised reason there would be no trouble. He pointed out that independent investigation had shown the timber industry was in a had way, particularly in Sydney, where on a capital outlay of £1,750,000 the average return for five years had been only nlxmt 2.2 per cent.

Judge Lukin asked how the men could expect the industry* to continue on those lines, working only 44 hours weekly. It would l>e better if the men tried to meet their employers instead of wasting money and injuring the whole community by an upheaval. “I feel I have done mv duty on all the evidence- If _ the employees do what I think is suicidal it- is very regret table-.” #