MAY KILL ARBITRATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 666, 18 May 1929, Page 9

MAY KILL ARBITRATION

STRIKE MENACES WHOLE SYSTEM DRASTIC ACTION HINTED ; Reed. 11 a.m. CANBERRA, Today. ! Unless there is a speedy settlement Ito the timber workers’ strike, the Federal Cabinet will, it is understood, consider recommending to Parliament drastic action, with an Arbitration Court system for fixing hours and conditions of work, and the settlement of industrial disputes. Several Ministers are of the opinion that the abolition of the Arbitration Court system would he warranted, in view of the fact that thousands of timber workers are refusing to obey the award of the court. Some Ministers believe that if the present conditions continue, the abolition of the arbitration system will be i inevitable. SUSPENSION OF AWARD The employers’ application to the Arbitration Court today for the suspension iu Victoria of the award affecting the builders’ labourers, carpenters and joiners was gi-anted by Mr. Justice Lukin, owing to the timber strike, in which these workers are pai--ticipating. There was no appearance of the union. STRIKERS DEMONSTRATE The timber strikers had anotlier street demonstration yesterday. They paraded and hooted outside the newspaper offices, but there was no lawlessness, owing to the presence of the mounted police, who followed the parade.