INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 41, 10 August 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE SUGAR TROUBLE. AWAITING CONFERENCES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 10, 12.30 a.m. Sydney, August 9. The inter-State conference of representatives of the Seamen's Union, the Waterside Workers, the Marine Institute of Engineers, the Merchant Service Guild, the Storemen's Union, the Coal Lumpers' Union, the Australian Federation of Labor, and the' Australian Workers' Association, opened to consider the sugar workers' strike. The conference sat all day. The preßS was not admitted. The conference decided to forward letters to the State Treasurer.

The secretary of the Australian Sugar Producers' Association is asking them to confer with representatives at the 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 be held not later than Friday. The conference adjourned till to-morrow afternoon to await the reply. Melbourne, August fl.

The position here as far as the shipowners are concerned is described as "the calm before the storm." The fact that the steamer Aramac is expected to arrive to-morrow with sixty tons of sugar, is likely to lead to the wharf laborers declaring their intentions. Even should they refuse, the company's clerks can easily handle the light bags. In the opinion of the managers the crisis is near at hand, and will probably lead to Berious trouble, perhapß to dislocation of trade. Received 10, 12.46 a.m.

Further developments in the sugar strike are unlikely till the result of the conference is known. The Mintaro is still anchored in Moreton Bay. EVERYTHING READY FOR A STRIKE. Received 10, 1.10 a.m. Melbourne, August 9. The Secretary of the Labor Council states that everything is ready for a general strike of transport workers. THE MEANS OF TRANSPORT. UNIONIST LEADER ASSUMES DICTATORSHIP. London, August 8. Following the precedent of the dockers and animated by Mr. Havelock Wilson's success in the seamen's an ! firemen's dispute, Mr. Gosling, Been "y of the Transport Workers' Unio" has seized the opportunity to become dictator of the transport world. The coal porters want the revision of their tariff, and the lightermen want the abolition of the distinction between daily and weekly men's pay, while the stevedores have not yet formulated their demands.

Mr. Askwith, Secretary of the Board of Trade, is interviewing various sections in the hope of discovering a basis for settlement.

Great supplies of frozen meat are held up, and prices at Smithfield are rising. Hundreds of reels of paper cannot be handled. Five thousand carters Lave struck.

TRAMP STEAMERS HELD UP. London, August 8. There is danger that fifty British tramp steamers will be rendered idle, as the Sailors' and Foremen's Union of Britain has ordered the men not to sign for the return voyage unless they obtain a guarantee that their wage will be increased in a similar manner to those in Britain.

THE MINT ARC'S CARGO. Sydney, August 9. The trouble anticipated on the arrival of the Mintara has been avoided owing to the vessel's return to Cape Moreton. , THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. Received 9, D.30 p.m. Sydney, August !). The official reason given for the Mintaro returning to Brisbane is that she wanted to replenish her coal supply.

The waterside workers claim that the real reason was the attitude of the unionists, who made it clear that there was no chance of unloading at Sydney.

STRIKERS COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Received 0, 9.30 p.m. Brisbane, August 9. Thirteen strikers were committed for trial in connection with the recent disturbance at Childers. AMERICAN RAILWAYMEN. New York, August 8. Chicago advices report that there are strained relations between the employees and Western railway authorities. A big strike may ensue.