AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

BROADCASTING BAN. CANBERRA, July 20. The Postmaster-General (Senator D. Cameron) announced to-day that he would withdraw lhe ban on radio artists and others if they gave certain undertakings. Later, Senator Cameron revised his statement to read that he would consider withdrawing the ban. Senator Cameron sought a promise from the persons concerned that objectionable matter would not be broadcast in future. The secretary of the Actors’ Equity (Mr. Alexander) gave an assurance that this undertaking would be given. A deputation from the equity conferred with Senator Cameron,. who announced that an agreement had been reached in the following terms: First, that in the event of the artists who had been banned being prepared to give a written undertaking that they would not broadcast objectionable matter in future, the Minister -would agree to consider removing the ban; second, that in the event of the equity giving an undertaking that it was prepared, to discipline any member of the association who broadcast any matter which was objectionable, it, was agreed that a representative oi lhe Post and Telegraph Department should discuss with representatives of the equity all other matters to which reference had been made in a letter addressed to the Postmaster-Genera' last Monday by the association, with the object of considering ways and means of preventing the broadcasting of objectionable matter in the future. deserted’wives CANBERRA, July 20. Deserted Australian wives of United States servicemen arc to be enabled to secure divorces in Australian Courts. This is provided for by the Matrimonial Causes Bill, which was introduced to-day in the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister (Mr. Chifley). He said that the provision dealing with marriages between Australian women and United States servicemen, would not apply ■if the parties had gone to live in the husband’s permanent home. These provisions were applicable to any marriage celebrated in Australia on or after'September 3, 1939, between a man domiciled out of Australia and a woman domiciled in Australia. The application of the Bill would be limited to wartime marriages.

It is stated that thousands of Australian wives have been deserted or divorced by Americans. PLANE CRASH. SYDNEY, July 20. The Commander-In-Chief of the British Pacific Fleet (Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser) has announced ‘that the following were passengers in the plane that crashed at Mascot: Captains J. G. Roper, R.N., and J. D. Harvey. R.N.; Commanders (S.P.) L. E. R. Govett, R.N.V.R., and J. E. Bass, R.N.V.R., Lieutenant-Commander H. P Byrne, R.N., Surgeon-Lieutenant C. Nolan, R.N.V.R., and Leading Steward E. Morris. Sir Bruce Fraser has written to Mr. G. Knowles, of Sydney, who made heroic efforts to rescue the occupants of the burning plane, thanking him on behalf of the Navy for his gallant action and disregard of personal safety. EQUIPMENT SHORTCOMINGS? "SYDNEY, July 21. Commenting on the air disaster at Mascot. Captain P. G. Taylor, Australian airman, said the captain of

the aircraft was of exceptional ability and experience as a pilot. He was certain that the pilot would have done the best that could be done in the circumstances. He added: “Tragedies of this kind will occur as long as the individual, both in the air and on the ground is expected to make up for shortcomings of equipment, and organisation with which he is loyally serving.”