AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 July 1924, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Australian.apd N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, July 30. Giving evidence befoi’e the royal commission enquiring into the railways, consisting of visiting experts, Sir Mark Sheldon, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said the administration of the railways should be free from political influence, which at present was exercised to a shocking extent. He instanced the city railway, which be stated everyone knew was not being run on business lines but as a political expedient. In the Assembly Mr McTiernan gave notice of intention to move that the action of the Government, in prosecuting union officials in connection with the Port Lyttelton hold up is deserving of censure. The matter will come before the House on Thursday.

Leading branches of the Federated Enginedrivers and Firemen’s Association reiterated defiance of the Arbitration Court and decided to instruct the federal president and secretary to refuse to accept the proposed new award, and to form a council of action to discuss future action to be taken. It was agreed that if the new claims were refused a. strike be called, and it was decided to get in touch with labour councils thronghout Australia with a view to securing a united front of all organised labour in pressing their claims, j The Paddon-Felton race is definitely fixed for T 2th August. SYDNEY, This Day. Arrangements have been made to ship 00,000 tons of the Queensland sugar crop to Britain. This disposes of more than half the estimated surplus. The Seamen’s Union decided to declare the Fordsdale black on arrival in Sydned to-day.

MELBOURNE, This Day. The House of Representatives carried the third reading of the Defence Equipment. Bill. Air Bruce stated that the 1 cost of the cruiser proposed to be built in England would be approximately £2,-' 200,000. . Draft agreements, for the deration of new migration proposals have been received by Air Bruce. It is proposed that Britain lend the Commonwealth £34,000,000 for land settlement and development work and the Commonwealth iu turn will lend money to the States, who will administer the expenditure. As the Commonwealth and Britain share the larger part of the interest charges the States will'receive the money at nominal interest. The Federal Parliament will discuss the proposals before definite action is taken.

Damage estimated at £15,000 was caused by a. fire which broke out in a building occupied by A. Kosminsky at. the corner of King and Bourke street*.

An official statement on behalf of the •associated banks of Victoria says that wool valued at £60,000,000 is in danger of lying idle in Australia if the representations of bankers to the Commonwealth Notes Board are unsuccessful. A bank official states that the trouble is that the country’s requirements have increased enormously while currency has not increased in proportion. During the last two years deposits increased by over £30,000,000, yet the banks are actually working on less currency. PORT DARWIN, July 30. The Mawson punitive expedition, consisting of twenty men under Colonel Storey, sailed in the steamer Huddersfield.