AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18766, 20 January 1923, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

FIRE AT SYDNEY. .'reea Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, January 19. Fire in a build inf; owned by the City Council and occupied by a number of firms caused damage which is estimated at £IO,OOO. A MILKING RECORD. SYDNEY, January 19. The milking Shorthorn cow ‘ Melba NV, which is owned by the Carbalara Estate, Gundagai, has broken the world’s record for butter-fat nroduction. In 365 days she produced 13161 bof butter-fat. equal to 1586Jjlb of butter. The record was previously held by a Canadian Friesian cow, with 12701 b of butter-fat. FEDERAL POLITICS. TWO-PARTY AGREEMENT EXPECTED. MELBOURNE, January 19. The discussion at the conference of Nationalists and the Country Party centred upon certain differences in the policies of the two parties and reforms which are being urged by the Country Partv. Although no agreement was arrived at, it is expected that finality will be reached to-day. Mr Hughes’s statement to the conference that he would stand down is conditional upon a policy mutually acceptable to the two parties being evolved. MELBOURNE DRAPER’S DESTROYED. MELBOURNE, January 19. (Received Jan. 19, at 11.5 p.m.) Fire destroyed Bonmarche’s manchester goods store in Bonrke street. The damage is estimated at £30,000. Iwo firemen were slightly injured. LABOUR COUNCIL'S REPORT. SYDNEY, January 19. The annual report of the Labour Council states that the workers carried out a number of determined struggles for slight improvements in their conditions, but to-day they were confronted by the position that to maintain those conditions thev will have to fight hard. The first offensive launched by the capitalists routed the ranks of the workers, driving them 'hack to longer hours and reduced wages. The report deplores the fact that during the year three big unions withdrew from the council and no new unions joined it.