A RUN ON SUGAR.

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 57, 5 September 1917, Page 7

A RUN ON SUGAR.

' MELBOURNE, 18th August. Following the announcement of the probability of the refinery at Yarraville being closed on Monday, unless the employees of the Colonial Sugar Refinery agreed to discharge raw sugar on the steamers Kadina and Tarcoola, many retailers have sent in large orders for sugar. Officials of the company stated to-day that there are certain stocks in hand, and these they hoped would be sufficient to supply the needs of all customers until the industrial dispute ends.. Carters employed by the company.are with one exception members of the Carters and Drivers' Union, but no instructions from the union have been received as to the attitude they should adopt regarding the deliver^ of sugar made from raw material unloaded from ships by others than regular members of the Wharf Labourers' Union. All the employees engaged on the boilers m are also union members, and it is possible they also may take individual action and refuse to get up steam for the purpose of handling any sugar refined from raw material discharged by others than members of the Wharf Labourers' Union.

In- ithe holds' of '■ he Kadina, -which is at present tied up to the Colonial Sugar Refinery Company's docks, are 3400 tons raw sugar, while the' Tarcoola, which will come in on Monday, has four thousand tons aboard. No meeting of the Sugar Workers' Union hm been called to consider the option offered to the men of discharging raw sugar from steamers or allowing ithe works to be closed down. In this union, as in others, everything is to be left to individual action. Many employees in ithe company are entitled to considerable sums under a Provident ■Frond, which has been established, while others will be entitled to pensions. Some employees stated .to-day that these_ facts might have an influence on their decision. N^

Plenity of labour is offering at the office of the National Servica Bureau, and the men working on the wheat stacks, at Brooklyn are .a happy family. So successful has the National Service Schema proved that the director has already been compelled to find bigger office accommodation.