£l000 FINE IMPOSED

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1929, Page 5

£looo FINE IMPOSED

ON AUSTRALIAN TIMBER WORKERS. Vustrulian Press Assn.—United Service MELBOURNE, March 1. Judge Lukin to-day in the Arbitration Court fined the Timber Workers’ Union the maximum amount of one thousand sterling for doing something in the nature of a strike. There was no appearance of the Union officials. Evidences was given of notices of a provocative character being posted about mills calling on men employed there to. strie .also describing JudgeLukin’s award as “a Most Infamous Award” also charging Lukin with legalising slavery. A hostile demonstration was made outside the Court by two thousand of the strikers, who vigoursly hooted Judge Lukin and shouted threatening and insulting words. A strong police cordon barred all doors. The position took an ugly turn The police .however, triumphed. Free labour was engaged by mill owners at Geelong to-day .to handle a large shipment of hardwood. Police protection was provided. .-it a meeting of the Council of Actoin, it was proposed to make an extension of the timber dispute. The railwnymen’s representatives are present. These and the transporters generally are likely to be asked to refuse to handle any goods that ha\e been worked by volunteers on the wharves or elsewhere. It is statied that no rents have been paid by the timber workers since the commencement of the dispute, and that unless the strikers are compensated for lost time when the strike is over, none will he paid. Fhe procedure followed is that when a timber worker notifies that his landlord is asking for a settlement, the Disputes Committee has the houses watched by pickets ,nnd the presence of these persons, prevented the landlords 'from taking further steps. Another industrial upheaval is threatening. The railwaymen are incensed at the Commissioner’s proposal to impose a fortyeight-hour week and speakers at a mass meeting promised drastic action if any attempt is made to alter the present conditions.