AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIA

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association ) REDUCED FREIGHTS. HOBART, June 16. The Union Steam Ship Company has reduced the freight on produce from Hobart and the North-west to the mainland by 10 per cent., in conformity with LABOUR CONFERENCE. SYDNEY, Juno 16The Labour Conference rejected a number of amendments in respect' to the McGirr dispute and by 88 to 42 votes carried a motion that the first committee appointed should report to the conference at the earliest date possible. CRIME IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, June 16. On the strength of a report by the Commissioner of Police of increasing crime, the Government has decided on the immediate adoption of a motor patrol system, and the appointment of an additional fifty-five constables. UH INESE MISSIONER. SYDNEY, Juno 16. M. lisiaio Chiu, member of Parliament for Canton, has arrived. He states that he is on a similar mission to that of Mr Sastri and will inquire into (he condition of Chinese residents in the Commonwealth.

N.S.W. DEFICIT. SYDNEY, Juno 16. It is anticipated that the State deficit for the year ending June 30, will be upwards of two millions notwithstanding the imposition of the supertax and disregarding the million shortage in consolidated ’revenue due t(5 the previous Government giving more than it received on the wheat transact.on. MINERS’ WAGES. SYDNEY, J uno xwIt is officially announced oft behalf of the Coal Miners’ Federation that steps have been taken to obtain an injunction from the High Court against the Coal Tribunal proceeding to deal with the owners’ application for a reduction in wages by thirty-three and one third per cent, and an alteration in the conditions of labour. WILD DOG PEST. SYDNEY, June 16. A deputation from West Darling, asked the Minister of Lands for protection against the wild dog menace, one speaker stating that the number of sheep in the three largest districts of the northwest was 1,250,000 in-1911 and 271,000 in 1920. The decrease was primarily due to the wild dogs. The deputation requested that £50,000 be sot aside for main fences to be built and other repairs;. Necessary netting should be made available for private fences on easy terms, and a Wild Dog Act should be introduced. The Minister promised Cabinet investigation. DOCTOR’S CLAIM. SYDNEY, June 16. An action has commenced m which Dr. Geo. Thompson, who was prominent in the case of Mrs Farr, is claiming £5OOO damages fiymi the British Medical Association for alleged defa> mation. The action is grounded on his expulsion from tho British Medical Association. following the part ho took in- the Farr case, and on the motion for his expulsion in which it stated h would not be met in consultation oi accorded professional recognition in any form by the British Medical Association.