AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Grey River Argus, 28 August 1946, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

. South African Tobacco « AUSTRALIANS FORM IMPORTING COMPANY ' > (Rec. 6.30). SYDNEY, August- 27. ~ Tobacco retailers and merchants, have formed a co-operative company) to import cigarettes and tobaccofrom South Africa. The company ex-., pects its first consignment of three million cigarettes to arrive at Brisbane next month. It concerns itself, solely with imported cigarettes and" tobacco. The company is. financed by--6840 one-pound shares, which are al< lotted to 452 retailers and in numbers not exceeding fifty per shareholder. Not Living Longer PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA (Rec. 7.35). ADELAIDE, Aug. 27. It was wrong to suppose that because thqre had been a substantial increase in the expectation of life, Australians were living to a much greater age, declared the Victorian) Government Statistician, Mr OswaldGawler, to the Economics Section of the Science Congress. Between the years 1881 and 1934 the expectation of the life of Australian males at) birth, had increased' from forty-seven, to sixty-three years. The difference - was largely due to a very large drop in the mortality among the infants; and the young children. In the past-seventy-five years there were only’ three periods when Australia’s popu-; lation had gained by migration.. These were 1875-89, 1910-14, and! 1920-29. During other period’s gainshad been light, and sometimes there had been losses. The Congress is be-, ing attended by twelve hundred, members of the Australian and New; Zealand Association for the advance-., ment of Science. The delegates in-1 elude fifteen from New Zealand and, 570 from other States. Liner Aorangi \ BEING RECONVERTED IN | SYDNEY •; (Rec. 9.50). SYDNEY 7 , Aug. 27. The work of reconverting the Can--adian-Australasian liner “Aorangi,” is the biggest job of this type undertaken in Sydney since the war. The ) work is proceeding slowly, and it is, not likely to be complete before next April. Difficulties are being met in obtaining the services of skilled’, men, and there are shortages of; materials, such as floor coverings, • timber and interior fittings.

. Ban on Katoomba HIGH COST TO GREEK OWNERS t. (Rec. 7.35). SYDNEY, August 27. 3 Negotiations are now in progress to overcome the black ban imposed on - the former inter-State liner KatoombaT by, the maritime Unions, according to* the Minister of- Shipping, SenatorsAshley. The ban has now cost thel new Greek owners of the vessel* £19,410, and- has delayed the ship's- - for over six weeks. The ’ ship is to carry 500 Italian prisoners* of war, and 12,000 bales of wool to ■ Genoa. SYDNEY TRAINS TO BE RESTORED(Rec. 8.15) SYDNEY, Aug. 27..., _ On Monday next a half-hourly city and suburban train schedule during, off-peak hours is expected to begin. ;; Since the coal shortage became seri- _ ous, three months ago, the off-peak ' services have been limited to one ’ train an hour. The trains have been packed to suffocation, and many of the passengers have been carried ) past their stations. Railway employees, who were told to take their holidays when the ; coal position compelled the curtailment of the services, have now been instructed to stand by to resume work. N.S.W. SERVICEMEN’S LEAGUE PARTY POLITICS BANNED SYDNEY, Aug. 26. I The State Council of the Returned (, Servicemen’s League affirmed that the league is non-sectarian and non- • political, and instucted the New I South Wales representatives at the; Federal executive and the Congress ■ to defend the constitution, which i bars party politics. The. council con- " firmed the expulsion from the league * of the member who last Thursday > threw a red’ flag during the session of the State Congress. After several delegates had expressed the opinion - that the. press was strongly in favour 1 of the returned soldier a motion to i exclude the press from the meetings - was withdrawn. ' ‘ USE OF CANTEEN PROFITS BRISBANE, Aug. 26. j A central fund to control the pro- -1 fits made from service canteens- and J similar sources and totalling £4,560,- t 000 has been approved by the Fed- ; oral Cabinet. The money will be allocated to the assistance of members 1 and former members of the services, ; tlifi’ir dependants and the 'dependants of those who have died. * Announcing this the Minister for I the Army (Mr Forde) said that the - first charge on the fund' would be for ( educational assistance to children of f former servicemen and the' education ' and maintenance of the children of '• deceased and incapacitated service- * men. It yas estimated that £2,500,000 " would' be required for this purpose. - The fund’s would be pooled by the 2 three services, each service retain-** ing £60,000 for the benefit of serving - personnel. -