AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18624, 4 August 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

TRADE WITH GERMANY; REMOVAL OF EMBARGO. Piess Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY. August 3. Eleven vessels were listed to load at Hamburg for Australia to September 2 The-Port Curtis, the first vessel, is due at Melbourne on Sunday with agricultural implements. The Government has circularised the public departments requesting preference to be given to Australian concerns when considering tenders or other transactions. The circular is intended to minimise any detrimental coftsequences which may arise from the removal of the German embargo.

LOOPHOLE FOR UNSCRUPULOUS TRADERS. MELBOURNE, August 3. (Received August 5, at 9.30 p.m.) The Customs Department has announcedthat it is not necessary for importers of German goods to apply to the Minister of Customs for permission to land goods in Australia, as the proclamation which forbade the importation from former enemy countries was revoked in January last, to take effect from August 1. The Customs officials fear that unscrupulous traders will be quick to make use of this loophole in the Anti-dumping Act. ’ N.S. WALES PUBLIC SERVICE. GOVERNMENT ECONOMIES. SYDNEY, August 3. It is stated that the Government proposes to withdraw the Public Service from the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court, also to increase the daily hours from 4.30 to 5 o’clock, and to abolish the practice, of awarding annual increments irrespective, of the value of services rendered. GENOA TO AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, August 3. The new passenger service from Genoa to Australia will commence in November. It is an extension of the Lloyd Sabando Line, which has been conducting a cargo service since 1919. WASHINGTON TREATIES. i MELBOURNE, August 3. The House of Representatives agreed to the ratification of the Washington treaties on the voices. FEDERAL SEATS. MELBOURNE, August 3. In the Senate the redistribution proposals, excepting in the case of Victoria, which is being reconsidered, were adopted. DISSATISFIED SEAMEN.' COMMONWEALTH LINER HELD UP. MELBOURNE, August 3. The commonwealth liner Echuca has been held up owing to the firemen and trimmers objecting to the management cutting out the extra meal between the night watches, which was provided in Sydney. Twelve of the crew were arrested for insubordination. FEDERAL STATISTICIAN. MELBOURNE, August 3. Mr C. H. Wickens, Suoervisor of the Census Department, has been appointed as successor to Mr G. H. Knibbs. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. NO-OONEIDENCE MOTION. - ADELAIDE, August 3. In the Assembly, Mr Gunn (leader of the Labour Party) moved as an- amendment to the Address-in-Roply—“That Sir Henry Harwell has lost the confidence of the people by his advocacy abroad of coloured labour.” FORTY-EIGHT HOURS’ WEEK. SYDNEY, August 3. (Received August 3, at 8.30 p.m.) In the Assembly the Government Bill providing for the restoration of the 48hour week is having a slow passage, the Labourites putting up a strong fight in support of the existing conditions. SOAKING RAIN. SYDNEY. August 3. (Received August 3, at 8.30 p.m.) After three days’ fine weather, a southerly blow brought more soaking rain. NEWSPAPER EDITOR FINED. SYDNEY, August 3. (Received August 3, at 9.30 p.m.) Henry Edward Boote, editor of the newspaper Worker, was fined £25 for inciting members of the Australian Workers’ Union to refuse to accept employment under the terms of the award. The case against George Buckland, secretary of tho Central Branch of the Australian Workers’ Union on a similar charge, was adjourned.