“BLACK HAND”

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 15, 5 October 1929, Page 5

“BLACK HAND”

TIMBER STRIKE FUND. ALLEGATIONS AT SYDNEY. Allegations that “black hand” tactics had been employed in Sydney to force tradespeople to provide funds for the assistance of timber strikers were made before Chief Judge Dcthridge in the Commonwealth Arbitration Court at Melbourne, during arguments on a motion relating to the wages of musicians engaged in broadcasting work. Judge Dcthridge expressed the view that music and pure drama wore doomed to disappear in favour of the mechanical article. “That the machine will supplant them is beyond doubt, ’ ’ said his Honour. Air Trcvolyn, Musicians’ Union: Only temporarily. Ilis Honour: Wc hope so, but I do not see any hope for it. ' Hr Kirby, representing various New South Wales entrepreneurs, said the industry was in a vary had condition generally. One day recently, ho had seen only 30 people in a, loading Sydney place of vaudeville entertainment. On the whole, attendances hud fallen by half.

His Honour: Some shows arc not entitled to have anyone present. I was ashamed to be present at one show 1 attended. Poor attendances at vaudeville arc due largely to the industrial depression, which affects particularly 1h classes who like vaudeville. Many of these people, with the aid of their so-called friends, put themselves out of a job. This year a lot of people, who would otherwise have been able to attend these shows, had no money, or they did have it, they subscribed to other “ deserving objects. ” ‘‘Keeping O’thefs.”

Mr Kirby: They have to keep others on strike

His Honour: I dare say the members of the Musicians’ Union wore called upon to subscribe for the timber workers.

Mr Kirby: Yes. If people will not work they cannot attend vaudeville shows. Shopkeepers at Bondi and Bondi Junction were compelled to sub scribe to flic fund, otherwise the “black baud’’ would have been raised against them. “I know it,” ho added, in reply to an interjection .from Mr TrevolJ’n. ft l saw the money handed over.”