AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 July 1927, Page 4

AUSTRALIA

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) QUEENSLAND SUGAR DISPUTE. BRISBANE, July 11. Parties concerned in the South Johnstone sugar mill strike failed to reach a settlement of the dispute. The proposals for settlement put forward by the Board of Trade were accepted by the men but rejected by the employers. The mill is at present working two shifts, with volunteer labour, and there are twenty-four cane-cutting gangs working. ENGINEERS’ AWARD. MELBOURNE, July 11. AL a meeting of fifteen hundred members of the Engineering Union, members pledged themselves to refuse to work overtime after next Tuesday, unless paid in accordance with the old award; also not to accept any system of payment by results. SYDNEY, July 11. A mass meeting of the Amalgamated Engineering Union decided to refuse employment at piecework rates, and repudiated the award of Judge Beeby covering the engineering trade. It was also decided to take a ballot on the question whether the Union should withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Federal Arbitration Court. The award becomes operative on Thursday. RUSSIAN WOOL-PURCHASES. SYDNEY, July 11. • Jules Pratigarski, Vice President of the Textile Import Coy., of Russia, has arrived in Sydney. He declines to state his mission, but it is understood to be to buj r Australian wool for direct shipment to Russia. Since the recent raid on Arcos agency in London, there has been a decided disinclination, on the part of Russian buyers to purchase Australian wool in London, and it was stated that Russia would probably purchase direct from Australia in future. The Federal Government has no official knowledge of any intention to send special represntatives to Australia to purchase wool. The Minister of Markets dedares I hat he sees no reason why Australia should not sell wool to Russia on the same terms as to the people in any other country of the world.