AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 54, 28 November 1923, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

LATEST BY THE MAIL An intolerable position seems to have been reached in the New South Wales northern coal mines to judge from what appears in the latest mails from Sydney. Indications of unrest in the Queensland police force are evident in a statement by the secretary of the Police Union. New South Wales’s political financing has doubled her interest bill in ten years ! The odour of the last Artists’ Ball in Sydney is still clinging to the City Council meetings. The movement for sending an Australian Board to the British Empire Exhibition is making progress. The standardising of the Sydney-Brisbane railway gauge is estimated to cut the length by 100 miles. Other items refer to a dastardly outrage on a cattle station, Labour’s legacy to the Sydney City Council, and a forecast of church union.

(From the “Sydney Morning Herald.”)

Sydney, November 22.

IDLE COAL MINERS “Intolerable Position” Reached. Thera are now 1450 miners on strike on the Northern coalfields of New South Wales. Nino pits aro idle. The owners believe that the stoppages take place according to a considered plan to limit output. They state that they cannot tolerate the position. The position lias become so acute that the acting secretary of the Northern Collieries Association (Air. D. H. Jonas) a few days ago made the following statement: —“The position on the Northern coalfields has assumed an even more serious aspect to-day, inasmuch as at three additional collieries tho men have downed tools, making a total of nine pits idle (in addition to the air-turbine machine men at Pelaw Main), and the number of men on strike is 1450. At the Burwood colliery, a drain had been choked up, which made the road slightly muddy for a couple of days. The men demanded extra ‘water money,’ and because the management would not guarantee this they went home. Bellbird is also on strike. Because ‘baulks’ which were being put up _ would not hold, the manager gave instructions that 12in. sets should bo used. To this the men objected, although they were informed that the usual payment would be made. At New Greta, there has been some trouble over the horses contracting influenza, which turned to strangles in some cases. The management has been doing its best to get over the difficulty, even, to the extent of purchasing additional horses. It was found necessary, however, to make one road a hand-wheeling road. This, apparently, did not suit the men. Thev held a meeting, which lasted till 7 40 a.m., and then went homo. This clearly shows that the men are not prepared in any circumstances to assist the management.” QUEENSLAND POLICE Indications of Unrest. There is a certain amount of unrest in tho Queensland police force, to judge from some remarks by Mr. Talty, secretary of the Police Union, commenting on the terms of an official reply to the demands of his union. Air. Taltv said that for years past the politicians, including a great many followers of the Government, had been saying that the Queensland police were second to none in the Commonwealth. One would naturally expect a Labour Government to prove its sincerity bv at least placing their notice on an eoual footing with those in New South AValcs. In the mother State tho police received Is. °d. a day in pn.v nnd rent more tlian the Queens-' land police. Sir George Fuller’s Nationalist Government appreciates the services of their police. Tho practice of Ministers of the Crown listening too attentively to conservative and antiquated officials invariably bred unrest, and it was not too much to say that it was this which brought about the unfortunate upheaval which recently burst over Melbourne. and which, lot it ho hoped, would not make its appearance here. STANDARDISING THE RAILWAY GAUGE Sydney to Brisbane Line cut by 100 Miles. ■There is now every prospect of an agreement being reached l , and a, start being made almost immediately, in respect to a standard gauge connection between Brisbane and Kvogle, thus linking Sydney and Brisbane by a direct standard gauge line. Dr. Page, in a statement for publication, said that the Brisbane-Kyoglo line had resolved itself into a matter for discus-, sion as between the Commonwealth ami tho two States affected. There was now every prospect of an agreement being reached and a start being made on this line almost immediately. Tho advantages of this lino, by providing a through standard gauge railway from Brisbane to Sydney, were manifold, apart from providing one of the links in the main system of a uniform gauge. Train after train of live stock and freight had to bo transhipped at Wallangarra, involving interminable difficulties, expense, and delay. The passenger traffic was also increasing, and under the proposed scheme the iournev over 223 miles of narrow-gauge linn would be avoided, and tho distance shortened bv 100 miles and six or seven hours saved, thus expediting the transport of passengers and mails. Furthermore this line would develop some of tho best lands in Australia, and would co a long way in providing for the settlement of many thousands of neonlo This lino was estimated to cost £3.500.000. The extension of the existing railway line in. the Northern Territory from its terminus nt Emunp’alen. near the Katherine River, to Dalv Waters, nt a maximum cost of £1.545.000. when completed. would provide railway communication from Darwin southward to Dalv Maters, a distance of about 4GO miles. SYDNEY ARTISTS’ BALL City Council Inquiry. The conduct at the Artists’ balls of 1922 and 1923 was debated at a meeting of the finance committee, arising out of a report by the city solicitor, that as tho Citv Council was the owner or the ‘Town Hall, it could make any regulation it liked in regard to tho prohibition of drink or smoking at func-

tions held there. Aiderman Burke said they wanted nothing hysterical done, simplv because a few persons were supposed to have misconducted themselves at a function in the Town Hall. There was plenty of power to have objectionable persons, or persons indulging in objectionable practices, removed from the Town Hall, and those powers should be enforced when necessary. The town clerk said that with regard, to smoking, there was ample power, as smoking was prohibited at all entertainments in the Town Hall under the Theatre Acts regulations. Aiderman Hagon said it would be farcical for the City Council to prohibit the use of liquor at the Town Hall functions. Ho hoped that the aidermen would not do anything that would make the City Council look foolish in the eyes of the public. It was decided that the City Council be recommended to take no action in a matter mentioned in a report fiom the Lord Mayor’ officer, that at the last artists’ ball tho police arrested three persons for illegally selling drink in the basement of the Town lall. AUSTRALIAN BAND FOR EMPIRE EXHIBITION Proposal Under Way. At a public meeting, convened by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, for the purpose of discussing the formation of an Australian band for the Empire Exhibition, the following motions were carried That it is desirable arrangements should be made to send a representative Australian band to the Empire Exhibition next year. That a band of 32 members be organised, under the leadership of Air. W. M. Partington, to be known as the Australian Imperial Band; the selections td bo made from ‘Partington’s City of Sydney Band’ and from A grade bands throughout the Commonwealth by Mr. Partington, in consultation with the Professional Musicians’ Union.” After a strong committee had been set up to further the proposal, Air. Partington said there had been considerable difference of opinion as to whether a brass or military band should be sent to the exhibition. .His own opinion was that, while a . military band would not be inferior to ft brass band, the expense would bo smaller in the case of the brass band, as fewer performers would be required. Another aspect of the case was that a brass band would encounter less competition from its own kind, as there would bo plenty of other military bands on the scene abroad. Air. Verlxrugghen had been greatly struck with the quality of some of the brass band performances ho heard in this country,, so there should bo no difficulty i’u attaining a very high standard when the unit was made up of picked men from all the bands of Australia. INTEREST BILL DOUBLED Ten Years of New South Wales Financing. Tho increase in the interest on State loans as compared with that paid a few years ago, is causing the New South TVales Government considerable concern. The State Treasurer (Sir Arthur Cocks) stated that the interest bill of £4,000,000 in 1913-14 had jumped up to £8,383,000 in 1922-23. Tho average rate of interest payable on loans in 1913-14. was £3 13s. 4d. per cent., but at the close of the last financial year the average rate, according to the official calculation, was £o 3s? 3d. per cent., or an increase of 30s. Tier cent, on the whole of the loan money the Government had raised. “At tho present time,” he continued, “the outlook for loan money, particularly on the local market, as on a. oj per cent, basis, is not encouraging, and there is a strong probability that any loans raised next year on the local market will soar as high as 6 per cent, by reason of tho imposition of the Federal income tax on such investments. The Treasurer added, that a return had been prepared showing that during the last ten years the State s population had not increased more than about 325,000, but its borrowing during that period had increased to the extent of £150,000,000. “Even the members of Parliament, continued the Treasurer “seem to think that the position of Now South Wales is not as clearly put forward as is desirable in the interests of the overv-day reader. . I received a letter from one prominent member stating that he heard quoted on a public occasion by a visitor to our shores that £37,000.000 was the cost of governing New South Wales, and that we were the most heavily burdened people in the civilised arena. As a matter of fact tiio business undertakings, including working expenditure and interest on capital, amount to over pqo 000 000. Statutory charges, which largely consist of interest on bori-owed capital, amount to over £4,060,000, tnlnrms of Civil servants .amount to between £6,000,000 and £7,000,000, and contingencies, representing the necassary expenditure . in reglard to hospitals, benefit societies, blind institutions, bursaries, and hundreds of other items, cover between i.3,OUU,VbU and £4 000.000. Therefore, it is not advisable that the misconceptions referred to above should go nncontradicted The public demands development 'Parliament demands develom ™ nt ; and the public Press demands development, and in tho same breatn demands reduced taxation. It is impossible for the Treasurer to jneet conflicting demands coming from the same source, urging reduced overhead expenses in the way of government and increased developmental expenditure in directions that will not bring m interest on the capital involvea. the only excuso for the heavy loan esti-

mates for this year is that the policy for tho last ten years has been to assemble in New South Wales a large body of unskilled labour. These men have been led to look to- the Government for employment in season and out of season, and if a sudden Stoppage took place it would of necessity force the Government to create relief works instead of carrying forward works in hand, at the expense of further loan money.” A DASTARDLY OUTRAGE Water Supply Tanks Destroyed. One of the most dastardly outrages recorded in the history of the Cloncurry district occurred at Devon Court Station, belonging to McMaster Bros., and. situated about 50 miles west of Cloncurry. About 18,000 cattle are depastured on the station end the adjoining property of Westbank. Both are fairly well grassed, but the stock are dependent on two watering places, one at Boomerang and the other at Cattle Creek, each supplied by two large mills, where the water is pumped by steam powerOn Tuesday operations were going smoothly, but on the following Thursday the manager (Air. Jones) was surprised to find the cattle excited and making towards the station. He proceeded with a party to Cattle Creek, and found the machinery wrecked, the bottom blown out of a 20,000-gallon tank, the other tanks riddled, and the troughing destroyed, thus rendering it impossible for the cattle io gqt a 'drink. Proceeding to Boomerang Air. Jones found an exactly similar state of affairs. A block of country 800 square miles has been rendered ‘waterless by this outrage. The Cloncurry police, with trackers, are now scouring the country. Every possible means is being taken to repair the damage, but this will take some davs, and meantime there will bo the greatest difficulty in providing water tor the stock. CHURCH UNION COMING Dr. Harper’s Belief. “The union of these churches must come sooner or later,” said Dr. A. Harper (president of the Joint Committee for the union of Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches) at a farewell organised in Sydney- . , , , His life had been enriched, he proceeded, by coming into contact with members of the three denominations during the campaign for union. From the very first it was obvious that an obdurate minority could wreck the movement, for nothing would induce them to countenance a schism within the Church and the consequent crumbling into sects. Rather than that, they would remain as they were. Thia minority had been some time in gathering itself together, but at last it bad made its voice heard. There were no serious obstacles to a renewal of tho movement for union in the future, but the work would have to start again from the very beginning. A fresh verdict was quite within ,tlio bounds of possibility at no distant date. He ventured to say that some of those who had so strenuously opposed union were now appalled attheir success. Throughout the whole of Christendom, the barriers between denominations were slowly Jmt surely crumbling away. “A LABOUR LEGACY” Concessions to Municipal Employees. Sir Allen Taylor, vice-chairman, at a meeting of the Electricity Supply Committee of the Sydney City Council, mentioned that at the previous meeting he directed attention to . the large amount that was put down in the financial statement for the quarter ending September 30 under the head of “management,” the total being £40,590. He stated tffbn that he considered the amount exorbitant. , Mr. Mackay had since furnished an itemised statement showing that, whilst £6400 of the amount was chargeable to wages l and £6500 to salaries, there wns £2500 chargeable to long service leave and £lO.BOO to holidays and sick pay. “It is evident,” stated - Sir Allen Taylor “that this matter will have to be probed further, as the. concessions granted by the City Council to its employees seem to be costing the city an abnormally large sum per annum. On tho basis of the figures for the September quarter these concessions to the employees of the electricity supply department alone cost over £52,000 a year, or more than the interest on £1,000,006. When I brought this matter up two years ago Air. Alackay told me that a great portion of the amount for sick pay and holiday pay was due to the war period, but that does not apply now, and yet we have for the quarter ending September an amount that is over 16 per cent, on the wages and salaries account. ’• Alderman Afallett: Surely there is something wrong? That is certainly ft bit hot. Air. Alackay, replying to tho chairman, said the concessions granted represented over 9 per cent, of the wages and salaries bill. The chairman: The revenue of the Department is about £1,500.000, and this is a high charge on the revenue. It is items like this that have to be considered if ve are to reduce the price of current to consumers. and especially manufacturers, to enable them to reduce the cost of production and so give more employment.

Alderman Bridges (Labour) said that flip concessions were not due to departmental action, but to the policy of the City Council duly set out in resolutions granting these concessions. Aiderman Courtenay: That is th» point that I was going to make—that this is a legacy from the Labour Council that the present council has to carry. Aiderman Bridges: Then you have your remedy by moving a resolution that the concessions be rescinded. Sir Allen Taylor said the matter was too important to be hurriedly disposed of, and on his suggestion it was agreed that decision bo deferred until there was a further analysis of the figures before the committee.