AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1926, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Awociatl Mi MURDERER REPRIEVED HOBART, March 8; 'The death sentence passed on Alfred John Dobson, for the murder of his wile last September, has been commuted to imprisonment for the term of his natural life. PREMIER AND GOVERNOR. ' SYDNEY, March 8. It is stated in political circles that the Premier and Attorney Genera] waited on the Governor, and requested him to appoint a number of women to the Legislative Council, and that the Governor refused to do so.

FEDERAL BY-ELECTION. SYDNEY, March 8. In the Federal by-election for Eden Monaro electorate, 1 due to the death of Sir Austin Chapman, the Nationalist candidate (Mr. ■ Perkins) at the present stage has a majority of over 6000 over the Labour opponent. ■ His election seems assured. MUTINY 'AT GAOL. SYDNEY,. March 7. Thinking that one of their comrades had been maltreated by the warders, one hundred prisoners mutinied in the Parramatta Gaol. They attacked the warders; but when evidence was forthcoming that the man had not been .knocked about, the outbreak subsided. 'There was a dangerous outbreak for a itme, but the firm attitude of the warders quelled the disturbance. BABY BONUS FAILURE. MELBOURNE, March 8. Speaking on public health, the Federal Minister of Health stated that Australia is far behind New Zealand and many other countries in the matter of child welfare- He showed.by statis tics that the maternity bonus had done none of the three things expected of it. It had not decreased infant mortality, saved mothers, nor increased the birth rate, although eight and a-half millions had been spent on the bonus. The Minister added that the money would have been well spent if it had done any of these things.

1 SEAMEN’S UNION SYDNEY, March 8. \For some time past, there'has been a factional fight' within the ranks of the Seamen’s Union. A crisis was reached at the weekend as the result of which, Walsh, General President, and Raeburn, General' Secretary, have been' summoned to attend a special meeting of the Sydney branch to-night, to answer charges of neglect of duty in regard to the administration of the •Union. Jacob Johnston ,is leader of the section which is demanding an explanation from the two'officials. The basis of allegations against Walsh and Raeburn is they are largely to blame for the present depleted state of the finance of the Melbourne branch in as much as they failed to, secure regular financial statements from branch officials as required under, the rules.