AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18752, 4 January 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS. BIG BATCH ARRIVES. ,9 -"■■■* Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, January 3. A batch of 257 Italian immigrants has arrived for Sydney and Queensland ports. The question of tbcir employment is seriously disturbing the authorities. Two hundred and fifty landed at Melbourne and found employment. Some complqin that they were grossly misled regarding the prospects. Thev expected to 'find abundant work at high wages, up to £4 daily. Some ; sold their farms and nil their belongings in order to reach the land of promise, and they are deeply disappointed. GREATER SYDNEY. SYDNEY, January 3. The population of Greater Sydney, embracing the whole of the metropolitan area, at the end of Just year was 1,050,000, the population of the metropolis itself being 950,000. 1 The total population of the whole of New South Wales at the end of June last was 2,147,655. NEWCASTLE STEEL WORKS. CONFERENCE FAILS. SYDNEY, January 3. A conference of employers and employees, with a view to securing a basis for restarting the Newcastle steel works, failed. An early resumption of work is now improbable. COMMONWEALTH REVENUE. MELBOURNE, January 3. The Federal revenue for the half-year ended December ''shows a remarkable increase on the previous corresponding halfyear. The Customs revenue was £16,459,000, an increase of £3,399,000, and s the postal revenue was £3,744,009, an increase of £232,000. The figures for *the income and other taxation receipts are not available, but it is understood that they have well fulfilled the estimates. VERBRUGGHF.N'S RESIGNATION. SYDNEY, January 3. Mr H. Verbrugghen has definitely announced his resignation as Director of the Conservatorium of Music, and has accepted a three years’ engagement in America, possibly with the Minneapolis Orchestra. LABOUR REFORM MOVEMENT. SYDNEY. January 2. The Labour Party’s executive has appointed a committee to draft a replv to the leader’s circular. The matter will be fought out at the annual conference in June. FEDERAL POLITICS. NEW SOUTH WALES SENATE. SYDNEY, January 3. (Received Jan. 3, at 9.40 p.m.) Senator Millen was elected to the second Senate vacancy in New South Wales. THE BUILDING TRADE. SYDNEY, January 3. (Received Jan. 3, at 9.40 p.m.) A total of 9084 new buildings was erected in Sydney in 1922 atj a cost of £9,917,963 —an increase of 547 buildings and £262,800 in expenditure compared with the previous year.