AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

(Australian and N.Z. Cable HOURS OF LABOUR. PERTH, September 19. The Arbitration Court extended the hours of Government workers from forty-four to forty-eight, a week, of six days, with wages at £4. STATE TRADING. SYDNEY, September 18. Dr Earle Page, speaking at Kempey, disparaged Government trading. He said the Government was meant to go+ vern and not to enter into competition with private enterprise. He believed in one government and one governor.

MISSING STEAMER.

SYDNEY, September 18.

There is still no news of the overdue steamer Baron Blantyre. The Under r writers’ Association is advised that 80 guineas per cent, is being quoted in London for her re-insurance. The Baron Blantyre is under the command of Captain Lee, with a crew of forty-five.

SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

SYDNEY, September 19.

Felton has been promised a certain amount of backing to meet Paddon for the world’s sculling championship on the Richmond River. A movement is afoot with a view to securing the required amount.

ARNCLIFFE TRAGEDY.

SYDNEY, September 19.

Considerable dissatisfaction has been expressed in the Press, and particularly in< the Amcliffe district, where the crime was committed, at what is claimed to be the inadequacy of the sentence on the youth Puddifoot (who strangled a small boy). The crime was of such a character that it is considered the prisoner’s release at the end of three years would be a public menace. Strong efforts are being made to have the sentence reconsidered. IRRIGATION PROSPECTS. SYDNEY, September 18. The report of Dr Elwood Mead, irrigation expert to the State Government. as the result of an exhaustive examination of the Riverina irrigation scheme, is of a heartening character. He considers the work already done satisfactory, and urges completion of the great Murrumbidgee River scheme, combined with a change in policy and efficient administration. Homes would then be assured for many thousands of settlers and droughts, as far as the Riverina was concerned, would be events not to be feared. BRITISH TRADE MISSION SYDNEY, September 19Alr. A. K. Wilson, governing director of the Sheffield Steel Works, is sounding the Australian markets with a view to ascertaining the requirements locally. He proceeds to New Zealand soon, where he will be followed by two of his competitors. He points out that competition for Dominion trade is so keen that the latter is no longer compelled to take what Britain offered. The question was for Britain to manufacture what the Dominions demanded.