AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9474, 6 March 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A STATEMENT REFUTED. March 4. ; Tn criticising the Government, Sir George Fuller remarked that Labour, 'though favouring the abolition of the Governor, seemed to get along well iwith Sir Walter Davidson, whose term «vould probably be extended. Contrary to precedent Sir Walter Davidson has communicated with Sir George Fuller, stating that there is no foundation for the promise of extension. ANTHRAX AND SHAVING BRUSHES. MELBOURNE, March 4. In consequence of the j Japanese Government undertaking to sterilise completely. the bristle used in shaving brushes, the Commonwealth Government has removed the embargo prohibiting the import of such brushes. (The cause of several cases of anthrax which have occurred in Australia. has been traced to Japanese shaving brushes.) COAL CONTROL. * (Received March 6, 10.45 a.ih:) ua /«' SYDNEY, This Day. The Colliery Agent has communicated with Mr W. M. Hughes urging the abolition of the Coal Control Board. He stated that the Railway Commissioners saved;-£20,000 by ignor- ■ ing the injunction of the Board -when making a contract, and would have saved an additional £30,000 if all -collieries had been free to tender outside the Board. The letter concludes /that the extravagant prices paid for coal during the past three years was •jdue to the Board’s operations. AUSTRALIAN TRADE. Mr McGregor, the British Trade Commissioner, shows that production in Australia has decreased by 20 per cent, since 1913. Consumption declined by 43 per cent. TRADE WITH JAVA. Mr Hughes has issued a report dealing with Australasia’s trade with Java, in which it is stated that owing to goods not being up to sample and not in accordance with the label, Australian goods have been tabooed in Java. Scarcely any article will commend itself if it bears an indication that it was produced in Australia. DAMAGE CAUSED BY FIRE. (Received March 6, Noon.) - A fire at/Brown and Poison’s mill <lid damage amounting to £30,000 and £40,000. NAVAL RECIPROCITY. MELBOURNE, This Day. Mr Foster has received a letter from Lord Jellicoe expressing appreciation of the visit of H.M.A.S. Melbourne to New Zealand waters, and also admiration for the crew in rescuing those on the Helen B. Sterling. The hope was expressed that the Chatham would join the Australian Navy in future exercises, and also •that the Melbourne would repeat her •visit. FIGHTING IN NEW GUINEA.

It is officially stated that during an inter-tribal fight in New Guinea a chief and twenty natives were killed. A patrol sent to the district to prevent further trouble fell into a native

ambush. A skirmish followed, m which three natives were wounded, and one is in a dying condition. He was suffering so severely that, actuated presumably by motives of humanity, he was put out of misery. As a. result of this action, the patrol leader was charged with manslaughter, and sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour. UNEMPLOYED SOLDIERS. BRISBANE, This Day. A meeting of unemployed soldiers carried a resolution that the promoters of the Russian Relief Fund be requested to hand over a portion of the funds for unemployed “diggers” of Queensland. AERIAL MAIL SERVICE.

PERTH, This Day. The Nor’-West aerial mail again came to grief at Gerald ton. A wheel struck a stump, bursting a tyre. The propel Lor and left wing were damaged. Nobody was injured.