THE SUGAR DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1188, 25 July 1911, Page 5

THE SUGAR DISPUTE.

SERIOUS TROUBLE LOOMING. STATEMENT BY MR. HUGHES. By Telegraph—Press ASGOciation-Conyrieht (Rec. July 25, 0.30 a.m.) Melbourne, July 21. Mr. Hushes, Acting-Prime- Minister and head of the Waterside Workers' Union, referring to the statement of the chairman of the Steamship Owners' Association—that if the waterside workers refused to handle non-union sugar the present trouble would extend round the coast and would bo worse than, the strike of ISOO— said he was desirous of preventing such a calamity and would leave no step uutaken to prevent it. There was something, however, very rotten in the state of things permitting the'great company controlling the sugar industry to draw huge dividends and yet decline to pay such rates for its cane as to enable the growers to pay decent wages to their men. HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS. Brisbane, July 24. A hostile demonstration against free labourers was'made at Bundaberg by a large crowd of the sugar workers who are on strike. There was no violence. Sugar-growers in the Mackay district have resolved to co-operate with other districts in resisting the men's demands. Another cauo fire is reported to have occurred at Cairns. The damage was slight. ACTION OF WATERSIDE WORKERS. Melbourne, July 21. The Wharf Labourers' Union has notified the steamship owners of its intention not to handle free-labour sugar.