AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) PONY RACING ENQUIRY. SYDNEY, November 8At the pony racing conference, one trainer alleged that trainers, bookmakers and jockeys were afraid to give evidence because they had been victimised in the past and were afraid they would be so again. He did not think there was a jockeys’ ring which engineered 'races. He thought the reported doping of horses was a myth. LIQUOR LOCAL OPTION. SYDNEY, November 8. The split in the prohibition camp has been healed by Air Ley offering to restore the local option provisions. The temperance organisations are signing a statement to the effect that Air’ Leys’ Liquor Bill is not a quotation of his prohibition pledge. BROKEN HILL MINE. SYDNEY, November 7. The gas escape in the South Aline is regarded seriously. Miners are strenuously endeavouring to cope with the trouble. A shift which should have ended at three o’clock yesterday was compelled to snatch a hasty snack in order to return to the fight. TIMBER OUTLOOK. SYDNEY, November 8. A. G. Mackay returned from a visit to Northern China and Russia said that excepting in Queensland, there was an alarming scarcity of softwood timber in Australia, and even Queensland was within sight of the end of her He was Convinced that Australia would be compelled to look to Manchuria for supplies in future. AVAR ON LOCUSTS. PERTH, November 8. Air Newman, Government entomologist, reports remarkable results from the combined offensive by farmers against the locust plague. The farmers laid baits in crops of paris green bran and molasses, and destroyed many millions. In some spots the dead covered two hundred square feet.

ERRAND BOY’S WAGE. SYDNEY, November 8. A case disclosing a serious anomaly in award rate of wages was decided at Albury. A youth, whose employer stated that he engaged him as an errand boy, but who declared he had been allotted show work, claimed the full award rate of £4 10s weekly. Counsel for plaintiff argued that as the award was silent regarding junior labour, his plaintiff was entitled to ihe full amount. Judge Bevan ruled that as the award stood, he must find in favour of the plaintiff, but it was quite unreasonable a mere boy should receive such a large wage. It was detrimental to the country as it discouraged apprentices and the value of proper training which was so generally recognised as needful.