LABOUR DISPUTE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29764, 6 March 1962, Page 20

LABOUR DISPUTE

Clashes On St. Vincent (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) ST. VINCENT (West Indies), March 4. Shooting has occurred in violent clashes after a workers’ wage dispute on the tiny British “rum island’’ of St. Vincent, in the West Indies, the Associated Press reported today. Among those reported wounded is the white general manager of a sugar mill, and the white president of the island’s Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association. The labour dispute has been raging for six weeks. Cutlasses, cable wire, and clubs were used in earlier clashes between union and non-union factions. On Friday, four British warships were reported to be “on manoeuvres” off St. Vincent. St. Vincent is one of the Windward Group of islands. It is only 150 square miles in area and has a population of 78.594. The island’s sugar mill and rum distillery are reported shut down after the disturbances. Key figure in the present situation is the island’s Chief Minister (Mr Ebenezer Joshua) who is also president of the labour union involved in the dispute. He is supporting his union members against the plantation apd sugar mill owners. The plantation and sugar mill owners are reported to have cabled Britain’s Colonial Secretary (Mr Maudling) explaining the gravity of the situation and appealing for protection, the agency said. Police patrols on the island have been criticised by some people for taking a negative approach to the clashes and acting only as “stretcher bearers.”