AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Grey River Argus, 29 November 1927, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PAPUAN SENTENCES COMMUTED (Australian and N. Z. Cable Assn.) RABAUL, November 28. The death sentences on the Nakanai murderers have been definitely commuted to imprisonment for fifteen years. CIVIC COMMISSION BILL. SYDNEY, November 28. The Government assented to the Ci.ic Commission Bill. GOLD MINERS BOYCOTT AUSTRALIA. NEWCASTLE, November 28. Wireless advices from Bulolo state that a public meeting at Salamoa passed a resolution advising all miners to hold their gold and not ship it to Australia, until the tax imposed on gold entering Australia is removed. It was further resolved in favour of shipping gold to other countries than Australia. COMMONWEALTH STATISTICS. SYDNEY, November 28. The quarterly bulletin issued by the Commonwealth Statistician shows that the imports for the year ended June were valued at £164,742,292. There were 29,991 unemployed in Australia during the September quarter, representing an unemployment rate of 6.7 per cent. The September retail price index number for thirty towns for goods and groceries, showed an increase over July, 1914, of 56.9 per cent. ROBBERY WITH ABSON. SYDNEY, November 28. While attention was directed to a fire at a butcher’s shop at Woollongong, a burglar entered a jeweller’s shop in the same street. Two men attempted to detain him, but the intruder drew a revolver, fired four shots slightly wounding both men, and then decamped without securing any booty.

When the fire was controlled at the butcher’s shop it was found that the cash register was rifled, but had contained only a few shillings. Investigation at the jeweller’s revealed thut a fire had started in one of the rooms of the building.

There has been a series of fires in the town during the last few weeks, and the police are of the opinion that a gang is working the district, combining arson with robbery. MOTORING CASUALTIES. SYDNEY, November 28. The numerous and ever-increasing number of motor accidents is causing a serious drain on the funds of public hospitals, which are pressing the Government for reeogn tion of this special burden upon them. The Minister of Health, Dr Arthur, estimates that these accidents cost the hospitals £lOO,OOO annually. He proposes to take a portion of the main roads grant, raised by motor taxes, to relieve hospital funds. The crowded condition of motor traffic has become such a pressing problem that the Chief Secretary is calling a Conference to discuss new regulations for

controlling both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. UNEMPLOYED ~ DEMONSTRATION. ADELAIDE, November 28. Unemployed assembled a thousand strong at the Treasury Buildings, and attempted to fores a way in to interview the Premier. The doors were guarded by police, who drew their batons and kept the crowd back. The Premier undertook to interview the leaders to-morrow. RADIO CONFERENCE. MELBOURNE, November 28. The industrial Registrar has called a compulsory conference between the Amalgamated Wireless Company and various wireless services td discuss i several outstanding disputed matters.