AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18539, 27 April 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE DROUGHT BROKEN. • ■ ■ RAIN EXTENDS TO FAR WEST.* Preei Association—By T»l«graph—Copyright SYDNEY, April 25. The rain has extended to the far -west, definitely ending the dry, spell. ' April 26. Owing to the holiday the weather reports from the country are scanty, but the indications point to a continuance of general rains, especially on the north coast. (Received April 26, at 10.50 p.m,) Heavy rain continues in the Southern and Western District's. ADELAIDE, April 26. April 26, at 11.5 p.m.) Soaking rains have fallen in the agricultural districts. COMMONWEALTH SHIPPING. ( HOBSON’S BAY INCIDENT. SYDNEY, April 25. A meeting of the Seamen’s' Union carried a motion that the original crew of the Hobson’s Bay should not sign on again, and adjourned till Wednesday, stating that it would pick a new crew in the meantime. The dispute has now reached a head, as the original crew resent the union’s action, which they characterise as Bolshevist, and state that they will defy the, union and sign on. (Received April 26, at 10.50 p.m.) A stop-work meeting of the Seamen’s Union decided that no restrictions should be placed on members seeking work on the Hdbson’s Bay. BLOODSTOCK SALES. SYDNEY, April 26. (Received April 26, at 10.50 p.m.) At the thoroughbred sales Eusebius was passed in at 850 gs. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, SYDNEY, April 26. (Received April 26, at 10.50 p.m.) Cabinet has decided not to make any general pronouncement /of its views on the question of capital punishment, but will consider each case on its merits. FIRE AT ADELAIDE. s ADELAIDE, April 25. Fire at Melvin Chambers, in the heart of the city, caused extensive .damage to several of the adjoining buildings. FORTY-FOUR-HOUR WEEK, UNEMPLOYMENT RESULTS. SYDNEY, April 26. The operations of the 44-hour week are adversely affecting the silica quarries near Malton. .One hundred employees were dismissed as a consequence. The timber mills at Nowra and Bateman Bay are reducing the staffs for the same reason. BASIC WAGE REVIEWED. SYDNEY, April 26. (Received April 26, at 11.5 p.m.) The Board of Trade met to review the basic wage. The representative of the employees asked for an increase on the • ground that the standard of living should be improved. The employers contended that the standard was fair and just, and, as prices had fallen, wages should be reduced. The board adjourned sine die, and will consider in the meantime whether it will fix a new wage. RAILWAY APPEAL CASE. . SYDNEY, April 26. (Received April 26, at 11.5 p.m.) The High Court reserved its judgment in the appeal of the Railway Commissioners against the recent decision of Mr Justice Scholes, who found in favour of two railway employees who brought an action against the commissioners, claiming arrears of increased nay alleged to be due to them under the Federal award made on the application of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. If the Commissiohers’ appeal is unsuccessful it will involve an additional annual outlay of £60,000 in wages. FEDERAL WIRELESS SCHEME. MR HUGHES’S ACTION CONDEMNED. MELBOURNE, April 26. It is stated that the Federal Labour Party intends vigorously to protest against Mr Hughes’s action in approving of the wireless scheme without the consent of Parliament. It is contended that it is a dangerous precedent to commit the community to an expenditure of £500,000 without parliamentary ■sanction. STATE ENTERPRISE SCHEME.' A REVIEW FORESHADOWED. SYDNEY, April 26. In taking over the control of State enterprises, which, as part of the scheme of economy, have been transformed from a separate department to a branch of the Public Works Department, Sir Thomas Henley (Minister of Works) said that the policy of the Government was to encourage private enterprise in every way. He foreshadowed a review of the whole State enterprise scheme on strictly economical lines, securing the highest standards of efficiency and full value for any expenditure which might be sanctioned. The reductions of staffs were indicated. SUPERPHOSPHATES AND SULPHUR INDUSTRIES. MELBOURNE, April' 26. A conference convened by the Minister of Customs of those interested in the superphosphates and sulphur industries appointed a committee to report upon a scheme for developing this new and vitally important national industry without detriment to other primary producing interests. WASHINGTON CONFERENCE. SYDNEY. April 26. (Received April 26, at 10.50 p.m.) Speaking at Temora, Senator Pearce stated that as a result of the Washington Conference Australia was free from the threat of invasion so far as Japan was concerned for at' least 10 years.