AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

THE COOGEE TRAGEDY,

Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright,

SYDNEY, March 15,

At the inquest on the body of M. Gannon, the victim of the recent Coogeo tragedy, the coroner said that he was unable to decide on the evidence who rescued Gannon: but it was sufficient to eay tnat they wore brave men, and did everything humanly possible to rescue him. GUN ALLEY MURDER.

MELBOURNE. March 15.

At the Criminal Appeal Court tho application of Colin Ross for a rehearing of the Tirtschke murder case has commcnced. Tho chic? grounds oi the application are that the judge should base instructed the jury that it was possible to return a verdict of manslaughter, and should have uttercd < a warning as to tho dangerous and suspicious nature of some of tTio evidence. FIRE AT KIAMA. SYDNEY, March 16. (Received March 16, at 10.60 a.m.) A big fire in a department, store at Kiama early in the week caused damage to the extent of £515,000. It is believed to have been started by burglars. A reward of £SOO has been offered for the conviction of the perpetrators.

DEPRESSION IN METAL TRADE,

SYDNEY', March 16. (Received March 16, at 10.50 a.ni.) The remaining blast furnace at the steel works at Port Waratah has been closed down. Three hundred men have been dismissed It is expected that the company s contracts will bo fulfilled by the end of the mouth. The works will then close. _ _ The extent of the depression at LitnKow is reflected in the reduced membership of the Ironworkers’ Union, which has dwindled from 600 to 130 members during eighteen months. DARWIN MEATWORKS. MELBOURNE, March 16. (Received March 16, at 10.50 n.m.) _ Mr Hughes announced that Vesteys intend reopening the moatworks at Darwin at an early date. ENGINEERING AWARD.

EFFECT ON COST OF PRODUCTION

MELBOURNE, March 16. (Received' March 16, at H a.in.) Mr A H. M'Douald, a manufacturer of farm implements, in giving evidence before the Arbitration Court, stated that two engineering award of IS2I frightened bis customers.” His export trade imd gone. Only one big machine had been sent to New Zealand. . Mr Lewis, of Kcllv and Lewis, stated that soon after the award came into operation a big contract from New Zealand was cancelled.

SCRAPPING OF BRITISH AIRSHIPS,

MELBOURNE, March 16. (Received March 16, at 11 a.m.) The Commonwealth Government has been officially informed that the British Government intends scrapping the airships which were intended for the establishment of an Empire airship service,

CONGRESS OF UNIONS TO BE

CALLED,

SYDNEY, March 16, (Received March 16, at 11 a.m.)

The Council of Action decided to hold a second congress of unions at Melbourne on June 26 to consider reports on the socialisation of industry, the prevention of war, and generally to tako stock of the economic position of the workers.

EFFICIENCY AND PROHIBITION,

SYDNEY, March 16, Deceived March 16, at 10.50 a.m.)

Tho Business Men’s Efficiency League of Now South. Wales by ballot decided, as the result of replies from many representative business men and institutions in tho United States and Canada, that as Prohibition had proved successful in those countries from a business standpoint ip continue the educational campaign yath the object of securing it here.