AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 July 1924, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PROSECUTION OF UNION OFFICIALS. BT CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT t SYDNEY, July 30. In the Assembly Mr. McTiernan gave notice of his intention of moving that the action of the Government in'prosecuting union officials in connection with the Port Lyttelton hold-up is deserving of consure. The matter will come before the House on Thursday. RAILWAY INQUIRY. SYDNEY. July 31. Giving evidence at the Royal Commission inquiring into the railways, consisting of the visiting British experts, Sir Mark Sheldon (president of the Chamber of Commerce) said the administration of the railways should be free from political influence, w’hich was at present exercised to a shocking extent. He instanced the City Railway, which, he stated, everyone knew was not being .-run on business lines, but as a political \ expedient. PUNITIVE EXPEDITION EMBARKS. DARWIN, July 30. The Douglas Mawson punitive expedition, consisting of twenty men under Colonel Sterey, sailed in the steamer Huddersfield. DEFENCE EQUIPMENT. Received July 31, 10.38 a.in MELBOURNE, July 31. The House of Representatives carried the third reading of the Defence Equipment Bill. NEW CRUISER. MELBOURNE. July 31. Mr Bruce stated that the cost of the cruiser proposed to lie built in England would bo approximately £2 - 200,000. SERTOUS FIRE. MELBOURNE, July 31. Damage estimated at .-£15,000 was caused by a fire which broke out in a building occupied by A. Kosmiusky, at the corner of King and Bourke Streets. —Aus.-N.12. Cable Assn. SHIPPING. t (Reseiecd July 31, 10.38 a.m.) / MELBOURNE, July 31. 1 Sailed —Moeraki for Wellington. — I Au9.-N.Z. Cable Assn.