AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18446, 6 January 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

IRON AND STEEL TRADE. WAGE REDUCTION IMPERATIVE.' Pioes Ass ociotion—-By Telegraph—Copyright, , SYDNEY, January 5. Mr. Hoskins, managing director of the ironworks, states that a reduction in wages is imperative if the, Loval iron and steel trade is to survive. Investors at present, hoV says, find it. more profitable to put their money into loans than into buildings in consequence 'of the prohibitive costa. He suggests a reduction of from 20 to 26 per cent, in wages, perhaps more. It is imperative, he, contends, that wages in Australia should not exceed those in America. NEW SOUTH WALES UNEMPLOYED. SYDNEY, January 5. Union officials estimate the number of unemployed at 40,000, not including Broken Hill, where the Government haa spent £145,000 in relief since July, 192 Q. SYDNEY’S LORD MAYOR. SYDNEY, January 5. The ' new Lord Mayor (Alderman M’Elhonel has assumed* his office. A noteworthy incident was that the Union Jack and the Commonwealth Ensign are flying outside the Town Hall. TASMANIA’S REVENUE HOBART, January 5. The revenue for the half-year was £II,OOO behind that the corresponding period for last year, HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SYDNEY, January 5. ’ The women doctors in Sydney have established at their own expense a hospital for wonjefi and children. HOT WEATHER SYDNEY, January 5, The etonn haa cleared, and the weather is nay steaming hot. \ THE PLAGUE OUTBREAK. TWO MORE DEATHS. BRISBANE, January 6. - A fatal case of plague in Brisbane is reported, and another at Townsville. Several new cases are reported. Of 23,000 rats destroyed 5 per cent, were infected. NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS, SYDNEY, January 5. The Caucus adopted a resolution that the elections should take’ place not later than March 22. Mr M’Girr notified the party that he would not be a candidate at the general election, as ho intends turning his; attention to Federal politics. (Received Jan. 5, at 11.5 p.m.) The caucus left the fixing of the exact date of the elections to Mr Dooley. They will probably be held on March 18. THE BASIC WAGE SYDNEY, January S. (Received Jan. 5, at 11.5 p.m.) Mr Kavanagh announced that the Government is not going to gazette reductions of 3s in the basic waga m /* , FIRE IN TIMBER YARDS. DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £20,000. HOBART, January 5. (Received Jan. 6, at 11.6 p.m.) A fire in Russell’s timber yards, near Launceston, caused damage estimated at £20,000.