AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1927, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian Jfc N.Z. Cable Association.) N.S.W. ROUT ICS. SYDNEY, Jan. 29. Australian Workers’ I'll ion Convention decided Vo postpone discussion on tbe subject of establishing a Labour newspaper till next -Convention, a committee to devise ways and means of financing the proposal. Family 'Endowments were definitely adopted, a State wide scheme providing for payment of ds weekly in respect of children, up to- the age of fourteen. At least eight millions sterling will he necessary to finance the scheme, whereof s-ix million will have to be borne bv industries of the State and the balance by the Treasury. The wage and endowment limit was fixed at £4OO sterling. A proposal to raise revenue by the establishment of a State lottery and licensing starling price betting shops, was rejected as umvorkakle. Inslead. it was agreed to impose a graduated land tax, with exemption of £■>.ooo to increase the stamp and pro- . bate duties and increase tbe taxation upon higher incomes. Land taxation will bring in, an extra million, stamp and probate duties £375.000. higher salaries £400.000. taxation from other sources £225.000 making two million required Irdili the Government. A suggestion that industries working under State awards should provide six per cent, of their wages bill and industries under Federal awards df per cent, of their wages sheets, will be placed before a caucus meeting.

a adzing cruelty. ■SI DXKY, January 28. An amazing story of cruelty to a boy vas related at the Woollongong Holies Court, when tbe boy’s mint. Amln’na I liompson. was charged with assaulting. beating and ill-treating him. The, boy was pale and emaciated. Though lie gave bis age as twenty, be looked, only about thirteen or fourteen. He said be was chained up with a dog chain at night. He was beaten with a stick and was ball' starved. A neighbour gave evidence that tbe boy was sometimes nitvtzled with a long tapering funnel, made of something like canvas, and was cruelly beaten. V itne.ss bad beard the bov pleading for food.

1 be police evidence showed that tbe boy slept in a room which was used as a bathroom, laundry and lumber room combined. It had a cement floor. The bed consisted ol a board about four

feet long and two feet wide, with a chaff bag tied at each cud. and containing foul-smelling straw. An old coat served him as a blanket. The boy told a constable that be bad plain porridge for breakfast, plain potatoes for dinner, and dry bread for tea.

A medical man testified that the boy was slightly mentally deficient. He had numerous scars and bruises about bis body. The boy’s father was manager of a shop in Goulburn, The aunt was committed for trial. HEAVY RAIX STILT.. BRISBANE. Jan. 28. Heavy rain continues in the southern part of Queensland. There are floods in the Western Darling Downs which are reported to be serious.

It is feared that there will be heavy lose- of stock, particularly of sheep. Xine inches of rain fell at Xangawee during the night.

The Condamine river is now running a hanker, and when the flood waters comedown it will Tie m high flood. Northern New South Wales is also affected. The residents of the low-ly-ing parts of the Tweed River district have moved their belongings to higher ground.