CABLE BRIEFS

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32554, 13 March 1971, Page 17

CABLE BRIEFS

Aust, author dead

The well-known Australian author, Frank Clune, died in Sydney yesterday after a short illness. He was 77. The writer of about 67 books in a space of nearly 40 years, Mr Clune served with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli in 1915, and took part in the Middle East campaign in the Second World War.—Sydney, March 12.

Threat removed Jet airliner pilots employed by Trans-Australia Airlines have called off a threatened work stoppage after talks with the management. T.A.A. captains, who retire at 55, want the retiring age raised to 60 to bring it into line with Australia’s other major domestic service, Ansett Airlines. Negotiations on the pilots’ demand will continue. —Sydney, March 12. Rebuff for Japan President Nixon has rejected a proposal by the Japanese textile industry to put voluntary limits on its textile exports to the United States for the next three years. “The deficiencies in the Japanese industry’s programme make it clear that this will not result in an acceptable solution,” Mr Nixon said in a statement delivered to the Japanese Embassy.— Washington, March 12. Ruling on bank A Supreme Court judge has dismissed applications by a firm of solicitors and a group of businessmen and

local residents to stop Australia’s Commonwealth Tradi ing Bank from closing its East Malvern, Melbourne, branch because of bank raids; it has been raided by armed men five times in 3) years. The two groups are also claiming damages against the bank, and these actions will now proceed to trial. They allege that the branch was contracted to provide them with banking facilities.—Melbourne, Mar. 12. Japanese curb Japan's steel industry may have to ask Australian and other collieries overseas to defer coking coal shipments to Japan, according to wellinformed sources in Tokyo. Japanese steel mills have decided to continue cuts in production to bolster the falling domestic steel market, and to reduce increased surplus stocks of steel products.—Tokyo, March 12. Dress ban Lipstick, mini-skirts and see-through dresses have been banned for girls employed in Tanzanian Government offices. A circular has been issued, telling civil servants just what, in the interest of what is described as Tanzanian dignity, they are not allowed to wear. Men are ordered not to wear bellbottomed trousers, blousetype shirts, and “hair and beards that are left to care for themselves.”—Dar-es-Sa-laam, March 12. Vatican norms

The Vatican has renewed its embargo on former priests preventing them from performing any priestly duties except hearing a deathbed confession when no priest is available. Instructions from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, made public today, also simplify the procedure for leaving the Jriesthood and give more importance to an evaluation of the applicant’s aptitude.— Vatican City, Mar. 12. Bank Rates cut A further reduction in prime interest rates by American banks may increase the pressure on Britain and West Germany to lower their rates, according to banking sources in New York. The Chase Manhattan Bank yesterday cut its prime interest rate from 5| to 5| per cent, and other banks moved down to 54 per cent. Britain and West Germany have high bank rates to curb domestic inflation—Britain’s is 7 per cent, and West Germany’s 6 per cent.—New York, March 12.