FIRE AND ASSAULT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 621, 25 March 1929, Page 9

FIRE AND ASSAULT

STRIKERS’ METHODS IN SYDNEY COMMITTEE’S WARNING (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10.15 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. The outbreak of fire which occurred at Eaton’s timber yards at North Sydney is thought to have been a deliberate attempt to destroy the property. The secretary of the Timber Merchants’ Association, Mr. Corke, said he had received warnings that Eaton’s and McKenzie’s yards at Eastwood, where the fire occurred last Wednesday, would be set on fire. There were further brutal assaults on loyal timber workers during the week-end. William Banks was set upon by a number of men at Glebe. He was knocked to the roadway and kicked about the head. He also had several ribs broken. The central strike committee discussed the Timber dispute during the week-end. It expressed apprehension that key industries were likely to become involved if a settlement were not soon reached. It intends to counsel unions to avoid any extension, and also to advise the Sydney unions to refrain from burning ballot papers or Judge Lukin’s effigy as threatened.