In The Herald: 1908

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday July 10, 2008

Malcolm Brown

* Lithgow iron workers rejected an offer of continuing employment in return for a drop in wages. Faced with a slump in the iron market and the failure of the Federal Government to pass legislation, an Iron Bonus Bill, to assist the industry, the employers decided they could not continue running at a loss. Following union intransigence, the owners closed the works.

* The Commonwealth Labor Conference in Brisbane rejected a proposal that it form a coalition with any other party because it said such unions had their pitfalls. But it decided that caucus could decide which government bills should be supported and the Labor leader, Andrew Fisher, pictured, could use that to support the government when they chose. A motion that caucus appoint a Labor ministry was "cordially received and adopted".

* In an Australian rules football match between Romsey and Lancefield in Melbourne, four referees had to participate. The first retired after a player threatened to hit him, the second left after players said they did not want him any more, the third was put out when a spectator ran onto the field and took possession of his whistle and the fourth managed to see the match out.

* Sydney was hit by the worst storm in years, leaving hail piled deep in places and derailing trams.

* A young man, Adam Imberger, riding a horse near Tenterfield, fell off when it slipped on ice. The horse fell on him, breaking Imberger's leg in five places. He was able to remount and rode for 90 minutes to a farm where he "cooeed" for help. The landowner took him into town on the back of a sulky.