SUGAR WORKERS' STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 195, 16 August 1920, Page 5

SUGAR WORKERS' STRIKE.

SEVERAL DIVERSIONS, ~ -WATEKSIDERS REFUSE TO DISCHARGE COAL. loNTKKKNCK .OK T<i-MORHOW. In accordance with previous decision, nil.crs of tin- So.-' "■ Worker-- t nb.it went on strike at midnight on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon v telegram from the President of the Hoard of Trade i.the Hon. I-:. P. l-ee) arrived nl tin- Trades Hall for the union secretary (Mr. Pur-

tell). Imt as that officer was indisposed nt liis home it did not reach him until S p.m.. too late for a clause suggesting a staying of tbe proposed strike to be given effect to. a section of the men having been put olf at the works as far hack as Wednesday. Further, tin' secretary was unwell, and the homes nf members of tho union are scattered throughout the city and across the ha room. Mr. Lee in lii-5 message stated that the accountant of tho Colonial Sugar Company would arrive from Sydney on Tuesday next, and that lie would like a conference in Auckland. In view of the aforementioned facts the -ecretary replied expressing regret that hi* request could not be acceded to. but adding: "Will be pleased to met vmu on Tuesday." MKKTiNXi OX MX DAY. The telegram from ; he Minister was submitted to the men at a meeting of the union yesterday afternoon. hut they would not listen to the suggestion ro raying the strike, and re-auinui'.l th. deci-iun not to rc-unie work until a sati-stactory -settlement is reached. The question of ihe conference, however, was tavoura'bh received, and :l "• decided that the .secretary and Messrs. -I. Doiicrty and S. Pugli slioLtid represent the union. Mr. Newton. Conciliation Commissioner, arrived at ihe hall prior to tha meeting, ami submitted a renewed request to tiie secretary to stop the strike. He was advised that tiie men were determined to go abend with it, but that if he elm. ■he could address them. Th-a Commissioner elected, under the _i_rcuT(r----.-tani-e-. not to ai-eept tiie invitation. COAL OAROO HELD LP. Another diversion in the dispute toolc place this morning across the Irarrboirt when watcrsider- refu-ed to discharge -SOU tons of coal from the Katoa for tiia i works nt Chelsea. i The -trikcr- were engaged in picket* duty, early this morning, but ou rinding that there wa* no occasion for the pre* caution a number retired to then? gardens, where they were occupied for the remainder of ihe day.

According to the statement of a unioit ollioer the men tit ill at work will refuse, if called on. to do any work other than that which they arc regularly employed at. and. fnrther. will not win-: with free labour. _ In only one instance "a- a member ol the union returned to work. This man, it was .-tated thii- morning, has been _ member of the Employee-" Provident Society for 30 years, and is naturallyanxious that he should not, deprive himself ot the benefit- attached thereto by -remaining away from work for one week without permission from the company. An officer of the union still adheres to the assertion that ii will only agree to a .settlement on the basio of the original demands, i.e.. an all round increase 'if _1 per week of 44 hour.. ACTION BY MINISTER.

TKLF.GRAM TOO I.ATK. I Ity 'leleiirapli.—Spt_inl k. "Smr."/ WELLINGTON, thi- day. The Hon. K. P. Lee (President of the Board of Trade), and Mr. Mai'Donald. (Chairmanl left Wellington by the midday express tn intend a i-oiiier.-n.o at Auckland in connection with the sugar worker- lispute. The Minister handed your correspondent v scries of tel-.;grams "which hud i-.5.-ed between himself and the union. Tin- lii-t detailed the men's demands. Later the Minister received the following telegram from the Sugar Workers' Union: "1-tis.e involves £170 a. week. t'SS-lo a \e:u. or £1 a ...-ok for 170 workers." At 2~ o'clo.-k the matter was placed before Cabinet, nnd be then sent an urifent -lake meed •<•" telegram tn ill SiiL'nr Workers' Union, statin.!: that "the ac.-.mutant of the Colonial Sugar Co. arrives nt Auckland from Sydney ou Tuesday, and f would then like a conference in Auckland, whie.lt L .\ill attend personally. with the .•hairman of the Board of Trade, and Mr. Newton I Conciliation Commissioner!. I suggest, in view uf these arrangement-, there should be no interruption in work." On Sunday the Minister received the following telegram from the Sugar Workers- Union: --Hid not receive your I wire till S p.m. on Saturday, owing tr» oversig.ht. Could not reply: indisposed. I «_rrv cannot accede to your request to del iv strike. Will be pleased to meet you on Tuesday. Thank- for ••oiisideration and promptitude" The Minister 'replied: -Your wire received. Regret cxeeediu-r'.y. in vie.v of conference which 1 propose :., bold on Tuesday, the employee* will not continue work in tin- ini-aiilinie. The -lmrtatte i,f sugar i- felt b\ every..no in do Dominion, and should not l»- ne.-enlu-i-_ted by any precipitation. I ,-an only iTope tli.it even no.v the works will be carried oil pendant: the holding -.f the conference."