SUGAR WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1920, Page 4

SUGAR WORKERS.

TROUBLE IN THEIR RANKS. UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT. By Telegraph.—Press A»«ocl«tiou. Auckland, Last Night, An unexpected development in the sugar workers' dispute, which for the time being has upset the calculations ot members of the recently-formed Union, is the filing of a dispute with the employers, which is set down to be heard by tha Conciliation Commissioner on WedflMday next. The Union recently took a ballftt on !i strike issue, the result of which was t\> be contingent upon the not meeting the representatives of the Union in conference by a certain date (to consider their demand for increased wages. The majority of votes wag cast in favor of extreme measures being adopted, and the employers not having come fd?»aW to meet the men, they were to enter upon ft strike the following day, but instead they decided to take advantage of the machinery of the Labor Disputes Investigation Act. Accordingly, the secretary, Mr. Purdell, withdrew the case filed on behalf of the Union with the Arbitration Court. He then set ou.t to comply with the requirements of the Act under which they had decided to proceed, but some delay was experienced through the lieoessary forms not being obtainable. The'citation paper in connection with the conciliation pro* ceedings arrived for the Secretary of the union yesterday, but according to his own words he would not accept it. Hw explained that tile Union was againsc going to the Arbitration Court with its dispute, and that they were emphatic on the point of laving it settled at a round table conference, as provided for .by the Labor Disputes Investigation Act. The qecretarv further reiterates the statement that he was advised when i*i Wellington recently that a conference to consider the dispute under the Act could be held at an early date. It would ee«tn, however, as if the Union has now milled its chance through delay e&used by the necessary application being unobtainable when the secretary instituted inquiries, otherwise the application "would hare been in a week ago. The, diversion is being freely discussed in labor circles.