CABLE BREVITIES BETTER ACCOMMODATION FOR SHIPS’ CREWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 March 1946, Page 8

CABLE BREVITIES BETTER ACCOMMODATION FOR SHIPS’ CREWS

Every Australian ship released from war service will have her crew space remodelled to meet modern requirements. Some passenger liners will lose a portion of their passenger accommodation to the crew. The entire Australian fleet is being reviewed by the Maritime Industry Commission, in consultation with, the Seamen’s Union. Post-war requirements are that all of the crew must be accommodated amidships, with the abolition of the old idea of the forecastle, where men’s lives were in the event of a collision at sea. Other requirements are: Two berth cabins; mess rooms; recreation rooms; and electric refrigeration. The first liner to undergo the remodelling is the Wanganella, which has been withdrawn from service as a hospital ship, and is being reconverted at Melbourne. It will be two or three months before she re-enters the passenger and cargo trade between Sydney and New Zealand.—Sydney, March 20. The British Loan.

The Wall Street Journal says that a poll of the Senate Banking Committee indicates that the proposed British loan will be approved by the com-mittee.—-New. York, March 20. Compensation Claim

Mr. De Valera, in the Dail, said the mine which exploded at Dolkey, Dublin, on March 12 appeared to be of British origin. Eire was applying to Britain for compensation for the damage.—London, Mar. 20.

Russian-Swiss Relations. The resumption of Russian-Swiss diplomatic relations ends a 22 years’ break. The resumption, on the initiative of Switzerland, followed an exchange of Notes, in which the Swiss told the Soviet they had “modified their previous attitude to Russia.”—Berne, March 19.

Tour of New Zealand as Prize. First prize of £5OO and'a tour of New Zealand is offered by the Royal Australian Air Force memorial appeal fund, which is seeking- “the Queen of the Service.” Servicewomen and formei’ service girls of all branches of the forces are eligible for the contest, which will raise funds for the establishment of a Royal Australian Air Force memorial centre at Sydney.—Sydney, March 20.

Tobacco Rationing in Australia. Tobacco rationing will be maintained by wholesalers and retailers after Government'controls are lifted on March 31. Rationing will be on the same scale as under Government control, and manufacturers have set up a special board to ensure that supplies to the public are maintained as fully as staff and material difficulties permit. Tobacconists are still receiving only 75 per cent, of the 1939-40 supplies.—Sydney, March 20. Rand Miners’ Strike. The Rand miners’ strike has spread to eight mobe mines. General Smuts told the South African Assembly that 8500 men were affected. The Secretary of Labour (Mr. F. L. Buchanan) and General Smuts’s personal adviser (Mr. Ivan Walker) are being sent to Witwatersrand to consult both sides and advise the’Government on steps to end the strike. General Smuts said it was possible drastic steps would have to be taker! and, if necessary, in the national interests, would be taken.—Cape Town, March .19.

Indians Sentenced. Two more Indian National Army soldiers were sentenced to imprisonment by court-martial at Havildar. A clerk was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, reduction to the ranks 'and dismissal, and a sweeper attached to the Indian General Service Corps was sentenced to dismissal and one year’s imprisonment. They were found guilty of cruelly beating Indian war prisoners.—New Delhi, March 20.

33 Lives Lost in Crashes.

Twenty-six members of the Services were killed when a C. 47 transport plane crashed in the Sierra Mountains, California. The crash scattered wreckage over a wide area. Later the wreckage of another plane, a 8.29 bomber, was sighted 150 miles southwest of Truckee, with probably the loss of seven lives. This bomber was en route from Honolulu. It reported itself as lost at 2 a.m. yesterday.— San Francisco, March 20.

Oil Refining in Australia. A fleet of modern British tankers is to take crude oil from British North Borneo and Sarawak for refining in Australia. The first shipment of 3,500,000 gallons has arrived. It will be pumped into barges and towed 12 miles upstream to the refinery at Clyde, which has a capacity of 12,000,000 gallons a month. The refinery, which was closed in January, 1942, will be reopened on Friday. Coming from British-owned wells in Empire territory, the trade will be entirely within the sterling bloc.—Sydney, March 20.

[Publication of Divorce Reports. A charge that, the New South Wales Government had capitulated to “outside interests which benefit by publishing divorce court evidence” was made in the Legislative Assembly by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. A. Mair) during the second reading of the Obscene and Indecent Publications Amendment Bill. An amendment prohibiting the publication of divorce court evidence was ruled out of order. The Opposition held that the bill took no cognisance of a widespread public demand. — Sydney, March 20.

Anti-Franco Agitation. A Rotterdam message says 3500 dock workers demonstrated against Franco’s' regime. Their banners merely proclaimed, “Down with —-—”, because the Mayor of Rotterdam had forbidden the mention of Franco’s name, as he was still head of a nation with which the Netherlands had friendly relations. Students unloaded 16,000 cases of Spanish Oranges from the steamer Orpheus, which Rotterdam dockers yesterday boycotted. The dispute over Spanish cargoes meanwhile has become a full-scale quarrel between the dockers and shipping companies.—London, March 20. Petrol and Dollars. “There is no hope of petrol rationing being abolished in Australia until Australia has a greater dollar allowance,” said the Minister of Supply (Senator W. P. Ashley). It was important to Australia, he said, that! the proposed loan of £1,100,000,0001 by the United States to Britain was agreed to. If the loan were made, Britain would be able to sell the Dominions a greater number of dollars than were at present available. Australian and -English private motorists were on the same petrol ration of about 120 miles a'month. If the loan were not passed Australia would have to continue rationing and would still be unable to buy certain machinery, tools-, and materials. -—Sydney, Marich 19.

Japanese Sentenced to Death.

Two more Japanese war criminals have been sentenced to death at Rabaul for the murder of an Indian soldier at Wewak. Sentences of 15 years and 10 years respectively were imposed on two other Japanese. The defence alleged that the men were instructed by the War Minister of Japan that Indians were not to be treated as prisoners of war. The Indian soldier was executed “under the lawful Japanese code,” after having been found in possession of four lemons.'— Sydney, March 20. Atomic Bomb Test.

Scientists flying helicopters from the aircraft-carrier Shangri-la will scout Bikini atoll in the Marshal Islands after the dropping of the atomic bomb to check radio activity. The scientists will be equipped with apparatus which will detect the presence of dangerous rays and will advise other expedition members when it is safe for them to land on the islands. The Shangri-la will carry a fleet of drome aeroplanes, “ghost Hellcats,” piloted by radio control and intended to fly. through the bomb cloud to otfe tain samples of atomic material. The drones have a ceiling of 36,000 feet. —•’ New York, March 19. Lecturer Killed in Brawl. Papers in a dead university lecturer’s pocket showed that he had been employed on secret service work for f the Canadian and British navies. The [lecturer, Dr. James Carson Taylor, was killed in a brawl in Brisbane while on his way to take up a post at the Melbourne University on February 19. A labourer, aged 24, was charged with murder, but after hearing evidence, the Court reduced the charge to one of manslaughter and committed the accused for trial. The accused said Taylor was drunk and had been ordered to leave a cafe. He grasped a waitress and refused to let go. The accused struck him just as a brawl among other men started. At the conclusion Taylor was seen leaning against an awning outside the cafe and a waitress told him to go home. He slapped the waitress and the accused then hit him. Taylor, who was apparently badly hurt, fell back into the roadway.— Brisbane, March 20.

Australia and Palestine,

“It has been widely claimed that the Australian delegation at San Francisco fought for the small nations,” said Dr. Evatt, (Minister of External Affairs), at a reception tendered him ;by representatives of Jewish Associations of Australia and New Zealand. ('‘This is only part of the truth. We ! fought for the conscience of mankind, and we obtained support frftm all quarters of the globe. It is the small and weaker peoples of the world who i have to struggle to get justice. The larger and more powerful nations seldom need such assistance.” He said that if Palestine were brought under a United Nations trusteeship, Australia, which would certainly hold a seat on the Trustee Council, Would be in a position, to assist in ensuring that justice and generosity were shown to the’Jews. Whenever anti-semitism appeared, it would be followed in’ Fascist pattern by attacks on democracy, on trade unions, and finally on the churches.—Sydney, March 20.