Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Saturday 16 December 1922, page 11


A MAYOR'S /NEW - STORES.

WORKMEN CALLED OUT. , PERTH, December 14.

A new development of the engineers strike occurred to-day when all the carpenters, joiners, - plasterers, painters, plumber*, and ; other workers employed on new Economic Stores^Hay street, were called 'out.. This action (Mr. .Barkar

alleges) was taken : because the -electrical works was employing. men on work which in the ? ordinary ' course would have been, done by the men on strike. Sir William Lathlain (proprietor of the Economic Stores) had transferred goods from temporary- premises and expected to open for business in the new building before Christmas.- As, Mayor he took a firm stand in the City Council. in declining to confer with the Trades HaSl disputes committee on the question of obeying the Federal award. He said it did not lie within -the province. of the^ council 'to determine questions decided by legal tribunals. In regard to the mission of Mr. Potter (delegate of the Federal Council of the Amalgamated Engineers) Mr. Barker reiterates that during his visit Mr. Potter neither asked nor directed the strikers to return to work, nor threatened that their benefits would be cut off 'if thfy refused. Mr. Barker stated this publicly during Mr. Potter's stay in Perth, and Mr. Potter made no denial.