TIMBER TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1929, Page 3

TIMBER TROUBLE

EXTENSION OF STRIKE EXPECTED IN MELBOURNE (Australian Press Association) MELBOURNE, May 8. The police have been strengthened in view of the failure of the timber peace conferenc, and of the practical certainty of an extension of the timber sinke, and also of inflammatory statements made by some of the strike leaders. All the tile works were closed today, and also the master builders, who included a lew who had stc-od put because they bad been regarded as white. This has suspended every job.. GARDEN’S SPEECH STRIKERS CONFIDENT. SYDNEY, May 8. Thfc Federal Cabinet discussed Mr •Jock Garden’s Yallourn speech, and decided that Garden’s inflammatory remarks constituted an incitement to rioting, which comes within the scope of the State Crime-s Act, but not the Federal Act. Therefore, the Cabinet intends to suggest to the Victorian Prime Minister that Garden be prosecuted. A portion of Mr Garden’s speech was cabled yesterday. The remainder of the speech dealt witlr the arrangements for a parade of fifteen hundred strikers in Melbourne to-day, in which be is a leged to have urged them t-o raid the large calcs and help themselves to meats, and whatever other goods they needed. Printed circulars were discovered here, urging the strikers to sabotage. The Labour Council officers disclaim any responsibility for these leaflets, and add that they have no need to rely on sabotage, as they can hold out for six months more, so satisfactory are the strike funds coming in. James Burns, aged 30, convicted of assaulting a volunteer timber worker. I was sentenced to -I months’ imprisonment. STRIKERS DEMONSTRATE. 2000 IN PROCESSION. MELBOURNE, May 8. There was a demonstration by two thousand of the timber strikers in the Melbourne streets to-day. Following on Mr lock Garden’s speech it was a tame' affair. No cafes Avore raided, and nothing was stolen from the department stores. There merely- was the sinking of.. “Tim Rod Flag” and •GVo Oftl Lukin on a Sour Apple Tree.” The crowd marched to the Prime Minister’s office to demand sustenance money for the unemployed, but the j Prime Minister proved to be out of ptown, and the croAvd moiled aAvay.

The police Avcre greatly strengthened for this occasion. MORE EMPLOYERS ENTER FIGHT MELBOURNE, May 8. The Victorian Cabinet to-day couriered Jock" Garden’s speech, and decided not to prosecute. The Victorian Master Builders’ Association, Avliich has been neutral in the timber dispute, has decided to close all its Avorks on Friday. Three thousand additional men are thus involved.