AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

CATERPILLAR PLAGUE. SYDNEY, September 20. Swarms of caterpillars in the Riverina, Illawarra and the Bingara districts caused havoc among the pastures, and threaten the wheat crops.

TASMANIAN POLITICS. HOBART, September 20. In the Assembly, a no-conlidence motion moved by Air. Lyons was defeated by fourteen votes to thirteen. A LIBEL CLAIM. SYDNEY, September 19. The hearing has commenced of a case in which Dr. George Stanley Thompsjn is claiming £5OOO damages for alleged libel from the “Medical Journal of Australia,” as the outcome o: comments on the case of Mrs Farr. CHILLAGOE ORE. BRISBANE, September 20. The Government Geologist, reporting on the Chillagoe find, says that the exploitation ore from the Mayflower mine lode must prove of great advantage to the Ojeers State smeiters and to North Queensland generally. HYDRO-ELECTRIC ENTERPRISE. SYDNEY, September 19. Dr Earle Page to-day laid the foundation of an important electrical power scheme, by which the waters of the Nymbodia River will be harnessed to supply light and power to a number of leading North Coast districts and townships.

THE LATE GOVERNOR.

SYDNEY, September 19

Lady Margaret Davidsoni, in a message of thanks to the people, says:— “The wonderful sympathy given me and the marks of true affection and respect always shown my’ husband, especially yesterday’s tribute, will never be forgotten.”

WIRELESS SERVICE. SYDNEY, September 20. Mr. Fisk, lecturing on the value of wireless for farming “ communities said that in 1924, the producers will he brought into direct communication with the London markets, the messages travelling from Australia to London in one-fifteenth part of a second. The cost, he estimated, would be one-third less than the present cable rates. Australia’s present cable bill was a million and a half sterling. N.S.W. ASSEMBLY. SYDNEY, September 20. In the Assembly, Mr. Lang asked the Premier whether the Cabinet had considered the advisability of appointing an Australian as Governor for the State, or abolishing the post altogether. Premier Fuller replied in the negative in each instance, and said that the Cabinet had requested the Imperial authorities to appoint a Governor. The Liquor Amendment Bill was read a first time. SHIPPING CLAIM. SYDNEY, September 19. In the Limerick Shipping Company case, Admiral Clarkson gave evidence. He said that he had come to the conclusion that the Scott Fell Company could handle transport work at a cheaper rate than the Commonwealth authorities, and that had influenced him in allowing the company to run the Emerald Wings and the Bronze Wings. Witness denied the evidence of a previous witness that the latter had mentioned to him anything about the manipulation of these vessels. He said : “Had he done so, he would have gone out of my office pretty quickly, and not come back.” ARNCLTFFE TRAGEDY. SYDNEY, September 19. A lengthy debate was held in the Assembly on Mr. Bagnall’s adjournment motion to discuss Puddifott’s sentence. Some strong comments were made on the inadequacy of sentence, and the need for stringent legislation to deal with sexual crime. Attempts to comment on the action of the judge who tried the case, were checked. The Attorney-General, after reading the report from the Judge, explaining the reasons for which the sentence was awarded, announced that the Cabinet and the Bar had discussed the question of the treatment of sexual offenders and perverts, and intended introducing legislation dealing with the matter, and which would minimise the danger of allowing them to remain at large.