TIMBER TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1929, Page 1

TIMBER TROUBLE

■ FIERY SPEECHES. AN “ALL-IN” FIGHT URGED PROSPECTS OF STRIKE ENDING (Australian Press Association). i (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 24. Much fiery talk marked the meeting of striking timber workers at the Trades Hall. The speakers urged the men to stop at nothing and prevent -waggons from leaving the yards. The names of loyal workers were read out and a speaker declared: “Now you know where they live.” A striker, however, addressing the meeting- asked: “Why don’t you tell the truth and say we tire beaten?” Financial troubles and the weakening of the morale of the men seems to have broken the hack of the strike. Sydney delegates have been summoned to Melbourne by the Central Strike Committee. There is a possibility of a resumption of the lortyeiglit hour basis. An urgent and last desperate appeal lias been made from the Australian Council of 'Trades Unions in Melbourne to the Federated Unions asking for funds. Dissatisfied with the passive policy of the combined unions, the .committee of northern miners attempted at a combined meeting of the union executives to enforce a drastic policy including the withdrawal of safety men, and an all in lignt. .Engine drivers opposed this, but the meeting recommended a more drastic policy ho considered. , One speaker declared: “We must interfere with the economic life of Australia if we wish to win. We must shut up everything, pull out safety men and put tho place in darkness.”