AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18447, 7 January 1922, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

COAL MINING INDUSTRY. CRITICAL TIMES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. \ SYDNEY, January 6. The coal owners estimate that the miners in the northern districts lost £465,639 during the yegx as the result of sectional strikes. The federation has issued a further appeal to the miners urging them not to ballot in favour of a strike, as the times are critical. NEW LABOUR DAILY. SYDNEY, January 6. Sydney’s new morning paper, the Daily Mail, has made its appearance. It contains eight pages. The price is Id, aa against 2d charged by the other morning papers. It has its .own cable service, and xt announces that It is not allied or connected with any party or faction. It is intended to be a paper for the people, and to be published at prices which the people regard as fair and just. BREAKWATER DAMAGED. SYDNEY, January 6. Extensive damage was caused to the Port Kembla breakwater as a result of the recent storm. Over 20,000 tons of blue metal boulders were dislodged froth the northern walls and washed into the sea, DIVORCE STATISTICS. INDUSTRIAL RETURNS.' SYDNEY, January 6. The divorce applications for 1921 totalled 1353, against 1451 in 1920. The decrees absolute granted numbered 716, against 775 in 1920. The industrial returns show that 5827 factories employed 145,241 persons in 1921. The' aggregate output was valued 'at £136,992,218. The number of factories increased iby 165 in the year. The Vages returns snow an increase -of over £4,000,000. NEW P. AND O. MAIL BOATS. SYDNEY, January 6. Two new P. and O. liners, tFo Mongolia and the Moldavia, will be commissioned for the'Australian mail service in May. I SYDNEY TOWN HALL. EIVE-DAY WEEK ABOLISHED. f SYDNEY, January 6. The Town Hall will be opened for business next Saturday and on Saturdays. PASTORAL FINANCE ASSOCIA- . TION. , SYDNEY, January 6. It is stated that the Pastoral Finance Association’s business was sold «to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company for £IO,OOO .cash .on the sighing of the contract and ' £35,000 subsequently, subject to 140,000 bales of wool being received from farmer clients of the association. HEAT IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, January 6. A heat wave was experienced, followed by ' rain. The thermometer registered 97deg in the city yeoVerday. GOLD SHIPMENT. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ROBBERY. , SYDNEY, January 6. The Sonoma has sailed with .a shipment of 400,000 sovereigns. Extra precautions are being taken -against a recurrence of the previous robbery. - .. BUTTER CONFERENCE. MELBOURNE, January 6. (Received Jan. 6, at 7.20 p.m.) The butter conference was continued. It was resolved that the arrived when a committee representative of the producers should be created with' the object of uplifting the butter standards and dealing with economic matters' affecting the industry. The committee was appointed to draft proposals in accordance with the resolution which will be considered by a Federal conference convened for the purpose.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

MUiRRUMBIDGEB IRRIGATION \ , AREA. A CALAMITOUS POSITION. SYDNEY, Jimuaty 6. (Received Jan. 6, at 9.35 p.m.) The Auditor-General’s report states that the Miurmmbidgee irrigation area shows a net loss for the year of £471,399, which is mainly attributable to the canning factory and the increased interest on capital. The position at the canning factory is described as calamitous. .