AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 15915, 22 September 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

BROKEN - HILL LABOR. WANTS SHORTER HOURS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, September 22. (Received September 22, at 8.40 a.m.) A meeting of the underground men employed in the Broken Hill mines passed a resolution to fight for a 44-hour week, to commence from midnight on each Friday night. . The fight will be carried on by only working a 40-hour week until the whole Miners' Union have been granted a 44-hour week. ' Only the underground workers will carry on the actual fight. N.S.W. FINANCES. HUGE PUBLIC DEBT. SYDNEY, September 22.' (Received September 22, at 9.25 a.m.) The New South Wales Auditor-Gen-eral's report shows an increase of receipts amounting to £507,999, as compared with 1913. Direct taxation increased by £627,011, while railway and tramway receipts decrease_d by £24,056. The public debt increased by £1,104.037, and now stands at £127,735,405. Six of the State industrial undertakings showed an aggregate loss of £32,222, while eight showed an aggregate gain of £32,495. The net loss involved since the inauguration of these undertakings totals £21,212. RESTOCKING DAIRY HERDS. _ MELBOURNE, September 21. The Victorian Government are allotting £50,000 for the purpose of assisting dairvmen to replenish their herds which were depleted owing to the drought. FOOD PRICES. SYDNEY, September 21. An auctioneer was fined £25 for selling pork above the proclaimed price.