AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16881, 8 July 1920, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.

(By Cable—Press Association—v^opyrigit.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable association.) SYDNEY, July 7. The Amalgamated (Society of Engineers is seeking Government assistance in a house-bunding sclieme lor members of the society. It is proposed to lend members throughout Australia £100,000. The maximum individual advance is £300 for 12 years at 4£ per cent. The Hon. J. Dooley (Chief Secretary) states that the Government may take over the scheme suggested by tho engineers, lending Government money at current rates of interest.

Mr Dooley also suggested tho likelihood of the Government undertaking the purchase of oversea timber in bulk to save builders having to buy separately. The executive of the Seamen's Federation has dispatched a letter to the maritime bodies throughout the world with a view to arranging a conference with tho object of preventing future wars. The letter states: "'Without our conscnt and co-operation the calamity of war cannot again fall on the world."

The Premier (Mr John Storey) has announced that an enquiry has been ordered regarding the dispute at the Mount Kembla Colliery, wiiere the miners recently stopped work on the plea that the mine was unsafe. Fine weather is prevailing in the flooded areas, and tho water is subsid- i ingj . ] Telegraphic communication has been restored everywhere. MELBOURNE, July /. The Northern Territory officials, who were asked to resign by the Commo t ■ wealth Government as a result of tne adverse finding of the Commission, have responded with letters of protest. The Government will shortly appoint new officials. In tho State Assembly Mr Prendergast moved a vote of want of confidence in the Government on the ground of its failuro to legislate for an equitablo redistribution! of seats. The gas strike deadlock continues. Tiie strikers sav they will take no action until a reply has been received from the Premier, the Hon. H. S. \V. Lawson. to their proposal for a round-the-table conference. Coal importers declare that the coal shortage in Victoria is more serious now than during any period sinco tho maritime strike. BROKEN HILL, July «. Two lady delegates from Melbourne, representing the Victorian Women's Broken Hill Clothing Fund, in a lengthy report to. a miners' meeting, stated that able-bodied men boasted m Melbourne that they preferred collecting alius for Broken Hill &t„ss in tho £ to doing hard Tork. _ Speakers who criticjsod tfce report were subjected to hostility* -The meeting adjourned.