SUGAR WORKERS’ STRIKE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143574, 12 August 1911, Page 3

SUGAR WORKERS’ STRIKE

CONFERENCE AT BRISBANE. MATTERS QUIETER. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. BRISBANE, August 11. A conference between the State Treasurer, Mr. Barnes, representing the State Sugar Mills, representatives of the Sugar Producers’ Association, and representatives of the Inter-State Labour Unions, was opened this afternoon. .Mr. Barnes was voted to the chair, and explained the position in regard to the strike, and intimated that representatives of the various unions were empowered to negotiate a settlement. Mr. Coyne, chairman of the Inter-State. Trades Union Conference, objected oto the presence of the press, but said thcr was no objection to a digest of the proceedings being published. Later, a motion was carried excluding the press. SYDNEY, August 11.

Tho Gabo came on to Sydney, and the wharf labourers removed her general cargo, but ignored 120 tons of sugar. A fresh cargo going in was placed above the sugar, .which will be taken away aj;ain. Matters in connection with the sugar strike are quiet, pending the decisions of the Brisbane conference. The steamer Gabo has arrived at Newcastle. General cargo ij.being unloaded, but the 60 tons of sugar aboard are untouched.

THE PBICE OF SUGAR. MELBOURNE, August 11. Mr. Hughes, Acting-Premier, referring to the rise in the price of sugar, said the Prime Minister of New Zealandi had. informed him that the price of No. 1 sugar in New Zealand was £ls 15s per ton, and of No. 2 sugar £ls os, against £22 16s 6d and £2l 17s 6d in Australia. The seller in both cases was the Colonial Sugar Company. The Australian public were able to see the possibilities of this lucrative business, seeing that the prices were six or seven pounds more here than in New Zealand, and want to know the reason; [The reason is that there is no duty on sugar in this country, whereas in Australia there is a duty of £6 per ton. If the price here were put up to the Australian level importers would draw supplies from elsewhere.] CONFERENCE A FAILURE. THE STRIKE SPREADING. (Received August 12, 10.5 a.m.) SYDNEY. Uugust 12. It is reported that the Brisbane conference of transport workers has proved abortive. Telegrams have been received in Sydney instructing the unions involved to refuse to handle any cargo on vessels carrying non-union sugar. This affects the wharf labourers, storemen, trolley and dray men. In the event of an attempt to work non-union cargo, the engineers and seamen will also be drawn in, and probably the' coal lumpers and clerks.

The union is attempting to influence clerks not to handle cargo. Tho position has become grave. The Newcastle men are also affected.