AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 240, 7 October 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGN.

MR HUGHES ATTACKED

AND ALSO, DEFEXDED.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

SYDNEY, October 6.

The. Trolley and Draymen's Union has expelled Mr* W. M. Hughes from the presidency, an office he has held for a number, of years.

The and Labpur Council, discussed a proposal for a one-day strike against conscription. The discussion ended in a fiasco. One member declared that by striking unions would make themselves a laughing stock. Other members demanded that non-striking unions be dealt with: Another announced that his union was not going to be dragoonedby the council or any other body. The greatest assembly of women ev&r seen in Australia -was held in the Town Hall. Six thousand packed the hall inside, and overflow meetings were Veld outside. There was an enthusiastic demonstration in favour of Mr Hughes and conscription. The Labour Caucus debated at considerable length a motion in favour of declaring a policy against conscription. The motion eventually was withdrawn, and no declaration was made. GERMANS XX PACIFIC. HOW THEY CAPTURED TRADE. __ SYDNEY, October 6. Before the inter-State commission inquiring into Pacific Island trade, the manager of the islands, department of Burns Phtlp and Co.' gave evidence regarding a contract entered inf» by Germans, whereby they practically captured the copra trade. German trade in the South Pacific was practically in the hands of four leading firms, which had such * complete,- interwoven that competition was impossible. If after the war. Britain" took over German island possessions, and the population and the trade became British instead of German, he anticipated that there would be a great increase in trade. CHARGES WITH TREASON. SYDNEY, October 6. Eleven men accused of treason were brought before the Police Court to-day. They were further remanded. owing to fresh developments in connection with alleged acts at Broken Hill and other places. Bail -was : refused. OBJECT TO "STOP WORK ' MEETINGS. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received 10.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, tide day. The employers in the saddlery trade have protested emphatically . against "stop-work" meetings to discuss the conscription issue, and threaten to take drastic action if these meetings arc continued. . I RED CROSS FUNDS. OVER £270,000 IN HAND. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received 11.5 aim.) MELBOURNE, this day. At the annual meeting of the Red Cress Society it was stated that up to May 3 £306,000 had been collected for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Of this, £270,000 was in hand. The disbursements for the year amounted to £127,000. It was «pected that the society would now have to expend £15,000 to £20,000 a month,