TIMBER WORKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20705, 1 May 1929, Page 9

TIMBER WORKERS

THE AUSTRALIAN DISPUTE. ACTION BY THE EMPLOYERS. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, April 30. The employers have taken steps to force a settlement of the timber strike. Every building job in the metropolitan area will shut down at 5 p.tn. to-day by order of the Master Builders’ Federation of Victoria, throwing 7000 men . idle. There will be no resumption of work until the building trades unionists agree to handle “ black ” timber, or until the strike is settled. It is expected that a further 5000 men in the auxiliary trades will be out of work by the end of the week. BRUTAL ASSAULT ON WORKER. VICTIM IN SERIOUS CONDITION. SYDNEY, April 30. Punched and kicked into insensibility and left for dead ii. the street was the fate of Morris Read, aged 28, a timber worker, who was assaulted at Glebe. Reid’s skull was fractured, and he may not recover. This latest attack brings the toll of victims to 20.. Some are still in hospital in a serious condition. RIOTOUS SCENES IN MELBOURNE. FIGHTS BETWEEN PACTIONS. MELBOURNE, April 30. (Received May 1, at 0.15 a.m.) There were riotous scenes at the Trades Hall, Melbourne, this afternoon, when 3000 strikers gathered in the 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 factious, one of which desired peace negotiations with the Lord Mayor. SEEKING A SETTLEMENT. LORD MAYOR’S EFFORTS. MELBOURNE, April 30. (Received April 30, at 9.30 p.m.) The Lord Mayor of Melbourne and a committee are trying to settle, the timber dispute. It is understood that the Trades Union' Council is prepared to meet the employers’ representatives, providing the: conference is unconditional.