SUGAR SUPPLIES

Timaru Herald, Issue 170297, 16 August 1920, Page 4

SUGAR SUPPLIES

REFINER'S ON STRIKE.

BROWN SUGAR NEXT.

Per Press Association

AUCKLAND, August 15. The sugar workers at Chelsea came out on strike tit midnight.

A telegram -was received from the President of the Board of Trade (the Hon. E. P. Lee) yesterday, asking the men to hold olf {lie strike pending a conference here oil Tuesday - between the Sydney representatives of the Company, the chairman, of the Board of Trade, and the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr Newton). Tlie Union, declined to agree, and at a. meeting held this afternoon decided to remain on strike until their demands are satisfied.

The Union secretary, in reply to a request by Mr Lee, through Mr Parry, M.P., for information, as to the points in dispute, telegraphed yesterday as follows"Union wants 44 hours, company 48. Will accept overtime at rate of time and a half first three hours, double afterwards. Holidays to be Christmas Day, Boxing Day, NewYear's Day, Picnic Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Anniversary Day, King's Brthday. The minimum weekly rate is now £3 14s. The Union wants £4 14s —i.e., £1 increase per man all round,—and 6s retrospective payment from May. The Union membership is 170. The engineers and fitters are still working.

BOARD OF TRADE MOVING,

(Special to the "Herald.'')

WELLINGTON, August 15.

The situation with regard to the sugar workers' dispute is being; watched carefully by the Board of Trade. It is understood that the Minister md Mr G. W. McDonald will leat'e for Auckland to-morrow. . , , In. the event of a. real' crisis fir the affair the situation will be somewhat awkward from the public point of view. There are n 0 appreciable reserve stocks oI white sugar in the Dominion, and the ' present intention of the Board is to s.upply the public with brown sugar shoiild the necessity for that course arise.