AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

ASSURANCE FROM SEAMEN.

Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

SYDNEY, January 29. Mr Welsh has communicated with the steamship owners giving assurances, on behalf of the seamen, of uninterrupted working, conditions. He repudiated the suggestions of “job control,” published in the press, adding that he seldom read th< newspapers! ana never believed them. SYDNEY, January 29.

(Received Jan. 31, at 0.25 a.m.) Matters in connection with the shipping strike are unchanged.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION, ' SYDNEY, January 29.

The Ministerial Party by three to one favoured proportional representation. A ballot is now being taken to ascertain the views of members party favours proportionalism, it will be necessary to revoke the decision of the last Labour Conference before retaining the present system

BALLOTS BETTER THAN BULLETS. SYDNEY, January 29. Mr Blakeley, president of the Australian Workers’ Union Conference, stated that the organisation by 16,138 votes to 10,157 favoured arbitration in preference to a strike. He added that those advocating a strike were unintentionally selling the workers and betraying unionism. Some preached that emancipation could be achieved only through blood and fire; but ballots were better than bullets.-

MR GEORGE DARRELL’S DEATH SYDNEY, January 30.

(Received Jan. 30, at 5.5 p.m.) The body of Mr George Darrell, thf veteran author and actor manager, was washed ■ ashore on the beach near Manly. He left the house of a friend where he live,d on Thursday night. A note was subsequently found in his room, merely stating that he had gone on a voyage. The deceased was over 70 years of age, and was well known in New Zealand, where he made his debut as an actor.

AUSTRALIAN CENSUS. SYDNEY, January 29. Arrangements are being completed foi taking tne census on April 4.

FALL IN FREIGHTS.

MELBOURNE, January 29. Sir Kenneth Anderson and Mr J. Geddes, directors of the Orient Line, predict a fall in freights, which will -till further accentuate the troublesome period which British shipping is experiencing at the present time.

THE PINEAPPLE INDUSTRY. BRISBANE, January 29. The Minister of State Enterprises announces that pineapple growers will be guaranteed 5s per case for approved pines. The Commonwealth Government is financing the scheme.

WEST AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

PERTH, January 29. The Premier (the Hon. J. Mitchell), in opening the election campaign, outlined the* Government’s policy, which aims at reducing the deficit, giving special encouragement to co-operative effort for the

production of all food ">->quii;ed by the State, industrial development generally, prevention of pronleering, and the untrammelled maintenance of the Arbitration Court f->r the sett.'-nent of industrial disputes.

A ton of oiomondft is worth eight million poimdu