DISSATISFIED SAWMILL HANDS

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2037, 28 December 1907, Page 5

DISSATISFIED SAWMILL HANDS

Per Press Association. Invercargill, December 37.’ During the past few days a persistent rumour lias been current to the effect that the Southland Sawmill Workers’ Union will, at its annual meeting on Tuesday night, consider the advisability of cancelling its registration. This step is urged, it is alleged, in order that the members may go out on strike, and so without the intervention of the Arbitration Court make a demand on the employers for increased wages. It is believed that the executive of the union and some of the employers have met in conference to discuss the question of wages, but that no satisfactory 1 arrangement could be come to. It is also stated that at first the union proposed, in the event of failure of a direct appeal to cite a case before the Arbitration Court, and if the Court did not assist them in the direction desired they would have then recourse to strike. As the story goes now it would seem that the court will not be given an opoortunity to effect a settlement, and that the workers will at once use the strongest weapon in their hands, and endeavour to coerce the employers by ceasing work. Of course this is merely the general indication of the state of unrest, which is fairly obvious at the present time among sawmill hands. Nothing in the nature of a decisive step can be taken until some empowering resolution is passed at a general meeting of the union. Action one way or the other will probably be taken at the annual meeting.