THE SUGAR STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1203, 11 August 1911, Page 5

THE SUGAR STRIKE.

■ • PREPARATIONS FOR A BIG FIGHT. UNIONS TO ACT? IN CONCERT. (Eeo. August 11, 1.20 a.m.) Sydney, Apgust 11. The tension in connection with tho sugar striko position has somewhat relaxed on the strength of advices from Brisbane that the State Treasurer and the sugar mill owners have agreed to attend the conference asked for yesterday. The conference takes place at i p.m. tomorrow A message received from the secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union, who is attending the Brisbane confeience, announcing that a conference has been arranged, asks tho Sydney waterside workers not to stop working general cargo vessels, as this will have an important bearing on to-morrow's conference. Despite the rcassuriuj tone of Brisbane advices, there has been no cessation of the preparation for eventualities amongst tho labour unions. It transpires that a secret conference to-day decided that all unionists will act simultaneously, not in sections, in the event of to-morrow's conference proving futile and trouble arising. The price of sugar to-day advanced £1 si ton all round. Tho view is expressed in Labour circles here that tho Queensland strikers are not likely to accept tho Wages Board or its award mentioned this morning, as the board was promulgated by tho Free Labourers' Union. Another difficulty in tho way of a settlement is that tho free labourers were engaged to take tho place of the strikers, and unionists are not likely to agree to work alongside them. j THE SUGAR TROUBLE. SHIPOWNERS PERPLEXED. Sydney, August 10. The waterside workers regard their pledge not to handle cargo touched by non-unionists as sacred. The shipping companies would welcome a way out of tho difficulty. If they refuse to handle sugar they will offend the merchants, and if they accept the ships may bo laid up. Tho secretary of the Labour Council declares that if th° men are forced there will be a bigger striko than in IS9O. CONCESSIONS GRANTED. Brisbane, August 10. The Sugar Wages Board at Mackay has decided to amend its determination by granting a forty-eight hours' week instead of sixty hours, and thirty, shillings minimum wage. .It is not yet known whether the men will accept these terms. Many are in favour of holding out for recognition of the union.