SUGAR CO.’S EMPLOYEES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1075, 23 July 1924, Page 6

SUGAR CO.’S EMPLOYEES.

DEPUTATION TO PREAIIER.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 23

A deputation from the sugar company’s employees at Chelsea, Auckland, asked All Massey to have the present duty of livesixteenths of a penny expiring in September bo continued so as to prevent the company carrying out its threat to close the works. . . The chief spokesman said it was the general feeling that the company was in earnest. Building work had been stopped. There was only raw sugar enough in the works for August and arrangements had been made to land Fiji sugar in August, which would bo the last shipment unless the industry was kept alive. Another speaker said that the labour view regarding the tariff had changed. He thought the company would like to establish a refinery in the islands worked bv Indians. Air Alassey said lie certainly was not in favour of turning down fellow oiti/effis und replacing them by black labour at one penny per hour. The remedy was to get a majority in the House in favour of.the tariff. It was a close tiling last session, and he had heard that some who supported it then would not support it again.