INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 144, 10 August 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE SUGAR TROUBLE

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright United Press Association. Sydney, August 9. Tho inter-State conference of representatives of tho Seamen’s Union, the Waterside Workers, the .Marino institute of Engineers, the Merchant Service Cuild, tne Storemen's Union, tile Coal Lumpers’ Union, the Australian Federation of Labour, and the Australian Workers’ Association, opened to consider too sugar workers’ strike. Tho conference sat all day. The press was not admitted. The conference decided to forward letters to tho State Treasurer. Tho secretary of the Australian Sugar Producers Association is asking tnom to confer with representatives at tho conference, with a view to possible settlement of the strike. They are also asked to reply not later than Thursday afternoon, so that the joint conference may he field not later than Friday. The * conference adjourned till to-morrow afternoon to, await the reply. Melbourne, August 9. The position here as rar as tne shipowners are concerned is described as “the calm before the storm.” The fact that tho steamer Aramac is expected to arrive to-morrow with sixty tons of sugar, is likely to lead to the wharf labourers declaring their intentions. Even should tiiey refuse, the company’s clerks can easily handle tiie iignt hags. In the opinion of tho managers the crisis is near at hand, and will probably lead to serious trouble, perhaps to dislocation of trade. Sydney, August 9. Tho official reason given for tho Mir,taro returning to Bnsba .10 is that she wanted to replenish her real supply. Tho waterside workers claim that the real reason was the attitude cf tho unionists, who made it clear that there was no chance of unloading at Sydney. Brisbane, August 9. Thirteen strikers were committed for trial in connection with the recent disturbance at Childers. (Received 10, 12.-15 a in.) Melbourne, August 9. Further developments in tho sugarstrike arc unlikely till the result of the conference is known. The Mintaro is still anchored in Moreton Bay. TRANSPORT WORKERS. Melbourne, August 9. Tho Secretary of the Labour Council states that everything is ready for a general strike of transport workers. STEVEDORES. (Received la, B. JO a.m.) London, August 9. The stevedores ask for an all-round increase of twenty-five per cent., giving at the least 7s Gd dailj, double p a y on bank holidays and King’s Birthday, work to cease at 12 o’clock on Saturday. A SERIES OF STRIKES. London, August 9. Five hundred Smithfield meat carters have struck. The strike of Manchester engineers has rendered 20,000_ idle. Four thousand railway men at Liverpool have struck. Quantities' of meat, butter, and perishables cannot be moved. Fruiterers are suffering severely. A LOCK-OUT, (Received 10, 9.40 a.m.) Berlin, August 9. Twenty-two thousand metal workers have been locked out at Leipsic, and Thuringian towns. Anxiety ns felt lest the movement extend to Berlin.

A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. (Received 10, 9.40 a.m.) London, August 9. A gene.Vl strike of carters lias been ordered, involving a further men. Strikers overturned carts contain- ■ ing meat. • The fruit trade at Covent Gardens is suspended. Business at the Corn Exchange at Smithfield and Tcoley Street is practically at a standstill. The clerical staff at the Waterloo goods station, refusing to perform porters’ duties, have struck. Mr. Gosling, secretary to the transport workers, anticipates a steady settlement as tho outcome of a conference with Mr. Askwith. Chaos reigns at the Liverpool docks, qunvs, and railway stations. The strikers demolished fish boxes, which they scattered in all directions, and looted a beer waggon and milk van. Porters and vanmen have struck. One hundred workmen at Port Sunlight Mills have struck for higher wages, and wool leaving the docks. Tim cold storage porters have struck. There were exciting scenes at Smith field, the strikers' roughly handling tho salesmen, and attempting to remove carcases. A number of trucks were overturned. Tho Runic’s fruit shipment has not been discharged. (Received 10, 9.30 a.in.) Sydney, .august 10. It is thought that the waterside workers regard tho pledge not to handle cargo touched by non-union workers as sacred. Tho secretary of the Labour Conn oil declares that if forced there will bo a bigger strike than in 1890.