AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

CUSTOMS FRAUDS. SYDNEY, April 29.

Two Sydney agents of a London firm exporting goods to Australia, chiefly goods from Germany and Switzerland, pleaded guilty to several charges of evading the payment of customs duties by making false entries in the invoices, with intent to defraud the revenue. Each was fined one hundred pounds sterling and costs.

, The counsel prosecuting on Itchalf of the Commonwealth authorities described the case its one of “premeditated. systematic fraud.” by reducing the value of the goods shown in the invoices. It had been proceeding for three years. He read correspondence from the agents to their principals disclosing the methods to be adopted. SHIP’S DOCTOR. DEAD. SYDNEY, April 29. A wireless message from the steamer Niagara reports the death of R.vgate, the ship’s doctor. STATEMENT BY UNION SECRETARY. SYDNEY. April 30. Mr Gibson, the Secretary of the En-gine-drivers' and Firemen’s Association. states although negotiations have not been reopened he is hopclul the coal dispute will be amicably settled before the expiry of the . Association’s ultimatum to the owners on Bth .May. lie described as futile -Mr nibble's suggestion that the Association should try to settle the trouble by constitutional means. “ For over six years.” says Mr Gibson, “our members have followed constitutional methods and those methods have unfortunately landed our members in tho position we find ourselves in to-day. The position is that whole is the metalliferous industries highly sidled craftsmen, namely winding engine-drivers, arc paid irom 33 to of! per cent above a labourer’s rate, in the coal mining industry the receive only lti to 24 per cent more. These are Australian rates. In European countries winding engine-drivers receive double the rates paid to lahmtr-

lu reply to a question, Mr Lang (Premier), said he had every confidence that the matter would be settled in the course of a lew days. MELBOURNE, April Ik).

Wheat is quiet, sellers (Is fid, buyers not operating at that price. Oats, milling 3s Bid. feed 3s to 3s 3d; barley. English. Is to is (id; Cape -Is to Is 2d; potatoes Lit) to I'll; onions L I 5 to .08. WIDOWS' pensions. SYDNEY, April 1 Tiller tho Government's recently approved scheme for widows with young families, already 2.500 claims have been granted ranging up to £4 Ids weekly. Many more remain to be settled. It is anticipated when all are operating the cost io the State will he £150.000 annually. PRAISE OF BUDGET. MELBOURNE. April 30. Mr Bruce commends the inclusion of the ten years’ term preference to the Dominions provided by the British Budget. A fixed term "ill tend to •staiblsiation, he contends, and will altnu producer.- and exporters to opera to \\ it h confidence. Ibe > - :l umgniliceitt exanip’e ol • mr tge ano Omnirial re-, i Rude. ITII LABOR WAY I SYDNEY, April 3“ j l oiler tile resolution lorced through | the City Council by Labor aldermen, it is now necessary to secure nomination of mi Alderman lie fore any appointment for unskilled labour can be made in a section of the Cotun il s service. Not only Reform Aldermen, but some Labourites strongly protested again-t. this form. A Labourite who moved the orignal motion prote.-l- (hat it has been altered in such a way by the Labour Caucus ;.is to make it: absolutely unfair and unjust. Tt now meant that nominations must he made by Labour Aldermen as Reform Aldermen have no power as regards the nominations. He added tlv.it some Aldermen appeared to have all the pull in regard to appointments. The secretary for Reform Aldennanie Party stated that of 577 of the new appointments made (luring the past four months, 270 "ere nominees of Labour Aldermen.

AIR BRUCE’S REPLY. MELBOURNE. April 30. Replying to Mr Garden’s request Mr Bruce stiites lie has no power to call a conference on the question ol a 44-hour week. He points out that unions 'have legal remedies.

WEMBLEY EXHIBITION. MELBOURNE, April 30. At a meeting of the commissioners convened to wind lip affairs with regard to the Wembley Exhibition, Mr Bruce said that a great educational work was carried out at Wembley. There was not the slightest question that it laid a solid foundation for a greatly increased inter-Empire trade. A detailed statement with respect to the 102.") exhibition is not yet availaide. but its main figures show flint the total cost to the commissioners was €77. SIS and deducting €50,000 received from the Exhibition Association the cost to the Commonwealth was €27.818. HEAVY WEATHER. MELBOURNE, April 30. Manuka —From Bluff. She arrived 21 hours late owing to heavy weather. The ship encountered heavy gales, and great waves forty feet high swept over the forecastle reaching at times to the bridge. Even when the centre of the disturbance was passed a heavy swell delayed the vessel and rain squalls made the conditions unpleasant for passengers. The officers stated the storm was one of the worst they had ever encountered in the Tasman Sea. THE -11-HOUR WEEK. SYDNEY. April 30. Mr Garden, acting on behalf of the Unions covered by lederal awards, telegraphed to Air Bruce requesting him to convene a compulsory eoniereuce to consider the iorty-tour hours question. He also telegraphed to the labour councils ot the Commonwealth asking their co-operation. A 1 ay hill. secretary of the Aletal Trades Employers Association states the representatives of the men employed by the Pioneer Spring Company have notified the management the men are prepared to work a forty-eight hours week. Subsequently, Bryant of the Australian Society of Engineers, of which a majority of the men are members informed the management that the men would not lie allowed to work more than forty-four hours, but could work from Monday to Saturday inclusive, as the Union was not bound to observe a live day week. Mayhill declared the Association believed that the men if they had their own way would, obey the law. T bey were being led, however, by a lew extremists.

TENTH DEATH. MELBOURNE, April 30. Gwen Evans, aged 7. of Clifton Hill, who was injured in the level crossing smash at Boronia on Monday night succumbed to her injuries, making the tenth death. All the other injured are improving.