AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18626, 7 August 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

MURRUMBEDGEE IN FLOOD. Pnu Awoetafcoo—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, August 6. As a result of torrential rains the Murrumbidgee River overflowed its banks, inundating the surrounding country. The river is still rising. The weather reports are again curtailed, many stations having been excised. The Government Meteorologist states that if centres which are affected by the restrictions show a necessity lor reports, they may be restored. THE NEWCASTLE WORKS. LABOUR COUNCIL OVERRIDES UNION. SYDNEY, August 5. The recent offer of the ■ Australian Workers’ Union to the Broken Hill Proprietary Company and Rvland’s Wire Netting Works for the resumption, of operations at Newcastle on reduced wages was officially rejected By the labour Council. GAUGE UNIFICATION. AN AGREEMENT REACHED. SYDNEY, August 5. Mr Hughes has agreed to proposals for linking up the Transcontinental Railway at Port Augusta with the New South Wales railways. This alternative method is necessary, owing to opposition from Victoria and South Australia to the general scheme, of unification. It is proposed to connect Port Augusta with the New South Wales system at the Hay-Went-worth 4ft Biin gauge. PRICE OF SUGAR. PROPOSED REDUCTION DEFEATED. MELBOURNE, August 5. In the House of Representatives, a Labour - proposal that .the price of sugar should be reduced to 4Jd from August 7 was rejected by 30 votes to 26. FIRE-FIGHTERiS’ WAGES. GO-SLOW POLICY THREATENED. SYDNEY, August 6. (Received August 6, at 11.45 p.m.) A special meeting of the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union has been called for Tuesday to discuss the proposed reduction of Is weekly in wages. One of the motions to be put to the meeting states that if the reduction is put into operation the union will adopt a go-slow policy in extinguishing fires. BAUD OF MORT’S DOCK. LONDON, August 5. (Received August 6, at 5.5 p.m.) The Australian Press Association understands that negotiations for the sale of Mbit's Dock to on English company are approaching completion.—A. and N.Z. ANZAC DAY. SYDNEY, August 6. (Received August 6, at 5.5 p.m.) 1 The Inter-State Conference of Returned Soldiers passed a resolution that Anzao Day • (April 25) should be known as Australia’s National Day and should be gazetted by the State and Federal Governments as a statutory holiday and commemorated annually.