GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10107, 22 October 1918, Page 5

GENERAL NEWS

STRIKE OF ENGINEERS IHREATteNED_ON THE BAND. Australian and Cable Assoc Ution CAPETOWN, October i». A Johannesburg message states that * big strike of engineers is thMatenecl in support of the ironmouldere, whe.aro "till out. The municipal po«oi station employees are likely to he involved. BRITISH SHIPPING COMPANIES. PREFER NOT~TO~SELL THEIR SHIPS. LONDON, October 20The secretary of the Furncss, Witliy Lines states that his company has no 'Knowledge of the reported Government warchase of shipping companies lhere was no desire on the part of the companies for their fleets to "be taken oyer by the Government. Officials of the r. and O. and Cunard companies have expressed an opinion mmilar k> -Mie abOT©..;..' " | ■- ■'-' SPANISH GRIPPI*:. GRADUALLY DYING OUT IN CAPETOWN. CAPETOWN, October 1&. The influenza epidemic is slowly dying out, though there are still many serious caees: Reports from the coun-try-indicate that the epidemic is following the same course as it dirt -m Capetown. At first the outbreak is mild, but then it soon takes virulent pneumonic features.. ITIEiFERENTIAL_VOTING ADOPTED By TelesrapL—Press Association—Copyright c>*T '>■,".Aii SYDNEY,' October 20. The "Sydney Morning Herald" states that the National Party has adopted the preferential voting system, •which will he put into operation at the next general elections. BALLOT ON ELECTORAL REFORM. {Received October 21, 10.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 21., The conflicting statements made regarding the result of a ballot taken by the National Party on eleotoral reform are intensified by the Returning Officer's announcement that the present position is that forty-eight votes were counted on each side, making a tie, and two- outstanding votes make trie ; final issue doubtful. The party is to consider the matter to-morrow.