AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 258, 14 October 1932, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE FEDERAL CABINET CHANGES ANNOUNCED i COUNTRY PARTY STANDS OUT Canberra, Oct. 13. The negotiations for the admission of the Country Party as members of the Federal Ministry failed. Mr Lyons therefore announced to-night the fowlowing changes in the Ministry:— Postmaster-General. — Mr Archdale Parkhill. Minister of Commerce. — Mr F. H. Stewart. Minister of the Interior. —Mr J. Per kins. Assistant Minister. —Mr J. A. Guy. Mr Parkhill was the former Minister of the Interior and Mr Perkins Assistant Minister of Commerce. ATTEMPT TO WRECK TRAIN. N.B.W. OUTRAGE FAILS. Sydney, Oct. 13. A deliberate attempt was made to wreck a train near Katoomba ..overnight. A freight tram struck an obstacle and when the driver brought the train to a standstill! he discovered a lifting jack and a damaged crowbar alongside the permanent way. There was abund ant evidence that the jack had been used to raise the line several inches and the crowbar placed across the rails. The jack was smashed by th“ weight of the engine. “WIZARD’’ SMITH LIBEL CASE. PLAINTIFF CROSS-EXAMINED. Sydney, Oct. 13. In the "Wizard” Smith libel case the plaintiff, Smith, was cross-examined by Mr Watt, K.C., for the defence, who ascertained that Smith received certain sums for information supplied to a section of the press, but Smith refused to say how much. Mr Watt insisted that the amount stould be stated and declared that it went to Smith’s credit. Mr Watt added that he desired to prove that Smith got more than £lOOO, which was a very good reason why he should stage a fiasco. Smith said he had a letter agreeing to pay him £lOO, of which £5O had been paid. » Mr Watt questioned the plaintiff at length about the fire in Smith ’s car engines and the conditions on the Ninety Mile Beach, also the attempts on the five mile record. The hearing was adjourned.

TURNOVER ON ’CHANCE. PRICES MAINTAINED Sydney, Oct. 13. On the Stock Exchange to-day the turnover was well up to the average and prices were without appreciable change. Banks were inclined to harden and Commonwealth bonds were in good demand. Sales. —Bank of New South Wales £3l 15/-, Commercial Bank of Sydney £l7 7/6, Union Bank (New Zealand delivery) £9 5/-, Colonial Sugar £54 15/-, Fairymead Sugar £1 6/6, Burns Philp £2 9/3, Wincombo Carson £1 4/10i, Goldsbro £1 7/3, Dunlop Perdnau 16/6, British Tobacco £1 16/4), Australian Gas A £6 16/6, Broken Hill Proprietary £1 3/6, South Brokens £2 10/6. Bonds.—Four per cents 1938 £lO2 3/9, 1941 £lO2, 1944 £lO2 12/6, 1948 £lOl 7/6, 1950 £lO2 7/6, 1953 £lO2 12/6, 1955 £lO2 17/6, 1957 £lO2 5/-, 1959 £lO2 10/-, 1961 £lOl 2/6. Melbourne.—Commercial! Bank of Australia 16/6, Union Bank £9 S/Dunlop Perdriau 16/6, ditto pref. £1 12/3, Herald and Times £2 17/3, Milla qum Sugar £1 8/6.

performing rights.

INQUIRY CONTINUED. Sydney, Oct. 13. At the performing rights inquiry Mr H. P. Williams, general manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, outlined the case for the broadcasting stations and the public. He said that there were serious objections to the heavy unit charge of 2s 4jd demanded by the Australian Performing Rights Association. This charge would become 9s fid per item if relayed from a main station. It was also proposed to increase the present charges in the event of additional listeners taking up radio, so that when the number of licensed listeners reached, say, 700,000 the unit charge would be 4s 6?d, aggregating £56,000 per year, which was preposterous. Mr Williams emphasised that there was serious doubt respecting a largo quantity of music now regarded as copyright whether the original authors and composers had not long since ceased to receive any share of the fee,. There was also grave doubt whether a considerable amount of music which should pass into the possession of the community was not being exploited for copyright fees.