AUSTRALIAN SENATOR AT SAN FRANCISCO

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25299, 26 September 1947, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN SENATOR AT SAN FRANCISCO

ALLEGED CONDUCT IN AIRLINER

CANBERRA. September 25. An allegation that Senator S. K. Amour (Labour, New South Walea) was thrown off an aeroplane at San Francisco because he was drank and aimed a punch at the captain ot the aircraft was made in the Australian House of Representatives by Mr C. L> Abbott (Country Party) during a debate on foreign affairs.

Mr Abbott said that Senator Amour had gone abroad to represent Aus. tralia at an international conference, and that bis conduct at San Francisco was such a disgrace to Australia that the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) should see that he was never sent abroad again.

After several interjections, Mr Abbott said he would tell the whole story as it was told him by a reputable British citizen who was a passenger by the aeroplane. “The facts are that Senator Amour became drunk at the San Francisco airport." he continued. “He refused to allow a foreign gentleman to get into the seat beside him. and kicked the foreign gentleman on the leg. The foreigner complained to the captain, who spoke to Senator Amour. Senator Amour then swung a punch at him, and the captain signalled to a United States policeman. The honourable gentleman was then removed from the aeroplane.” When Senator Amour was questioned by reporters after reaching Sydney on August 21 he replied: 'T got off at San Francisco. I pleased myself what I did about it. I will aay what I want to say in the right and proper place.”

FIRE DESTROYS WOOL CARBONISING PLANT

HEAVY LOSS IN SYDNEY (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 25. Fire which broke out this morning destroyed a wool carbonising plant owned by F. W. Hughes in the Sydney suburb of Botany. The fire quickly swept through the plant and spread to nearby houses. Eight men in the factory had barely made their escape when ammonia drums began exploding. The glow could be seen 12 miles away.

A stiff breeze caused the flames to jump to three houses and six others were prepared for evacuation. The residents damped down weatherboards and furniture with garden hoses until the police reached the scene. A valuable, string of 20 racehorses in stables 100 yards away took fright, but stableboys covered the horses’ heads with sacking and led them to safety. The plant was valued at more than £50,000. About 900 bales of carbonised wool and 1000 bales of untreated wool were in store, so that, assuming that none of this can be saved, the total damage will exceed £lOO,OOO.

ACTION BY UNIONS TO CHECK STRIKES

AUSTRALIAN MINES AND SHIPPING (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 25. Representatives of the miners' lodge? have endorsed unanimously the ban by the Miners’ Federation on anarchy in the union. They are prepared to support the threat by the miners’ management board to suspend or expel members who take part in unauthorised strikes.

In Melbourne the Australasian Council of Trade, Unions has decided to ask unionists to volunteer to man all coastal ships IS the engineers carry out their threat to strike and tie up all shipping from next Monday. The inter-State executive of the council made the decision after full consideration of the engineers’ case and deplored the refusal of the Institute of Marino and Power Engineers to accept the decisions of th? Maritime Industries Commission. Th? dispute originated in a demand by the engineers for the dismissal of a chip’s fireman. The institute has since instructed its members to resign if the dispute is no* settled satisfactorily to the engine?’