Union Terrorism.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1922, Page 4

Union Terrorism.

ATTEMPT TO BLOW DR HOUSE IIOHART,. May 23.

The little township of Oeeveston. in the Ilium district, has been under organised terrorism duiing the last fortnight, arising out of a dispute between union officials and the Huou Timber Company. There is considerable (listless among timber workers owing to the stagnant state of tile industry, caused oiliellv by the unpayable rates and conditions imposed by the Federal limber workers’ award. The Huon Timber Company lias been making al-t-rations to its mill to enable it to perform twice as much work as formerly—cut 00,000 ft a dav I —and employ additional men.

To facilitate getting timber out, the level of a tram line has to lie lowered, ami it is in connexion with this work that trouble has arisen. The work was let h.v contract. Union officials contended that it was work in connexion with the mill and should he done hv day labour, under the conditions of the Federal award. The company contended that it was acting under an award dealing with railways, tramways and pick and shovel men, and was within its rights in letting the work to a contractor. The work would give employment to 50 men for eight or 10 weeks, and many unemployed were only too glad to take the work. , Union officials, however, declared the work “black,” and pickets were posted throughout the district. All strangers were warned not to take a job. Jn spite of this, several men took jobs, and five or six of them were sot upon by a party of 50 men, ineluding a union organiser, and hadlv knocked about. Police assistance was obtained, and other men were signed on. The exit enlists then issued a warning to tradesmen not to supply these men with goods, and those who did se were boycotted. On Saturday night the extremists forced the proprietors of the picture show to have those who were working on the tramline lemovcd horn the hull. Upon this being done, the imm wore assaulted.

When all these methods failed the extremists decided on more violent measures, and last night the hoardinghouse where the contractor for the I ramway, and his men were staying, and which also contained women and ( hihlrcn. was partly blown up with gelignite. The house was severely damaged, windows being shattered and doors being blown off. The report was heard five miles away. A strong force of police lias been sent to the district.