SUGAR WORKERS' STRIKE

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 7

SUGAR WORKERS' STRIKE

SETTLEMENT ARRIVED AT.

AUCKLAND, August 18

The sugar workers have agreed to resume work at the earliest possible moment, and their- case will be referred to an' early sitting of the Arbitration Court. A settlement of,the strike on these terras was finally come to as a result of a conference between representatives of the union, the Hon. E. P. Lee (president), Mr W. G. M'Donald (chairman of the Board of Trade), Mr Newton (Conciliation Commissioner), and Mr A. Harris, M.P. The position at the time the men struck was that all the raw sugar at the Chelsea works had been treated, and as a result the raw sugar workers will hot be able to make a start until Friday, when a fresh shipment of raw sugar is expected to reach the works. At the conference the Government representatives agreed not to oppose such questions in the demands of the union as wages, working hours, 'overtime, holidays, and retrospective pay. In a statement regarding the settlement the Hon. E. P. Lee said the position actually was that the men were employed by the Colonial Sugar Company, and, therefore, the Government was unable to make any direct arrangement with them. He had arranged for a. special sitting of the. Arbitration Court, and it would probably be held on Monday. The Government would be represented, and would place before the court wages, hours, and output conditions, which it is prepared to agree to, so far as it can. leaving the court to improve these conditions if it deems it necessary to do so. The Department of Industries and Commerce came into the dispute because of the agreement made by the department with the Sugar Company, and becausj it was directly concerned with the sile and distribution of sugar throughout the dominion '