AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16213, 26 April 1916, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

I SERIOUS FIRE IN SYDNEY, ESTIMATED DAMAGE, £30,00 a Bt TeleiraDh—Press Association—Copyright. (Received April 25. 75 D.m.l Stdvet, April 25. A fire gutted the three top floors of Penfclct's buildings, Pitt Street, occupied by Penfolds, printers, and a number of other tenants. The firo also gutted premises occupied by Thompson, tailor, adjoining. The damage is estimated to be about £50,000. EASTER VISITORS IN SYDNEY. LARGER CROWD THAN LAST YEAR. (Received April 25. 7.5 P.m.! Sydney, April 25. The number of visitors to the city lot Easter is much in excess of that of last year, the fine weather being responsible. There were large attendances at the Royal Show and races yesterday, 96,000 visiting the show and 55,000 the races. Tho railway holiday traffic showed an increase of 41,000.

LABOUR PIONEER DEAD. FIRST MINISTER IN N.S. WALES. Sydney, April 25. The death of Mr. William Turner, th« first Labour Minister to sit in the StaUl Parliament, is announced. NATIONAL INSURANCE. PROV. lON FOR ILLNESS. Melbourne, April 25. A progress report has been presented by the committee which was appointed to go into the causes of death and sickness in the Commonwealth. The committee recommends that there should be established an insurance scheme to provide temporary relief for workers to obviaia the necessity for their return to work immediately after a serious illness. STATE CLOTHING FACTORY. NON-UNIONISTS EMPLOYED. Melbourne, April 25. In connection with the dispute at M Commonwealth Clothing Factory the Political Labour Council passed a resolution condemning Senator Gardiner, vice president of the Executive Council, for starting two non-unionists and three Government inspectors to do the cutting. The Clothing Trade Union declared the work of these men to be "black." Probably, the result will be tho transfer of Government work to private firms.

IMPUTATION RESENTED. " SELF-SEEKING- OFFICERS. Stdnet, \pril 25 A resolution was carried by the Labour! League Conference condemning the Post, master-General for stating that the officers of the various Public Service associations were self seekers and made themselves objectionable by playing to the gallery. The resolution added that it was singular that; many such men were promoted when their unionistic attitude ceased. STATE ENTERPRISES . ' OPERATIONS SHOW A LOS?. Stdnet, April 25. Statistics were submitted at the LabouC League Conference, showing that tha capital Invested in State undertakings was £485,725. Seven of them yielded a profit of £32,495, while six were run at a loss of £33,222. SALES AT ROYAL SHOW. STALLION FOR GISBORN'E. Stom-.t. April 25. At the Royal Show sale? Mr. Douglaa D. McClure's stallion Glenmu.r Premier brought 220 guineas. Mr. C. Sowell. of Gisborne, bought the stallion Loyal Will.* for 120 guineas.