COURTS DECISION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1929, Page 6

COURTS DECISION

AUSTRALIAN TIMBER WORKERS. 'Australian Press Association). MELBOURNE, Jan. 23. In the Federal Arbitration Court todav, Judge Lukin made final the vital clauses in the Timber Workers’ Award, substituting a 48-hour week for 44-hour week. The Judge expressed regret that the Union representatives should see fit to hold aloof. He added that if the majority of union members exercised reason, there would be no trouble. The Judge pointed out that an independent (investigation had shown that the timber industry was in a bad way, particularly in Sydney. At Sydney, on a capital outlay of one million' and three-quarters sterling, the average return over five years had been only about 2.2 per cent. Judge Lukin asked how the men could expect the industry to contmr . on those lines. Working only a 44 hours week, he said, would be better if the men tried to meet their employers, instead of wasting money, and injuring the whole community by ai: upheaval. He concluded: “I feel tlmt I have done my duty on all the evidence. H tlie employees do what I think cidal, it will be very regrettable.”