AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20501, 31 August 1928, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

LIQUOR REFERENDUM. CONSIDERABLE INTEREST AROUSED. (United Press Association.) • (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, August 30. There is considerable interest in the liquor referendum, which will be' held in New South Wales on Saturday. The rival camps have placarded the metropolitan area with huge posters, more or less of a spectacular nature, and final rallies are being held. Both sides are optimistic. VALIDITY OF POLL CHALLENGED. SYDNEY, Augi -t 30. (Received August 31, at 0.20 a.m.) The Rev. R. B. Hammond, of the New South Wales Alliance, announced that he is considering applying to the High Court to-morrow for an injunction restraining the chief electoral officer from bolding the liquor referendum on Saturday. The grounds of the proposed action are, Mr Hammond alleges,, that liquor interests to-day published in the newspapers an advertisement which could be read as an official announcement, with the electoral officer’s signature attached advising the electors to vote against prohibition, and that the advertisements are not signed by the advertisers as required by the Electoral Act. , FEDERAL ELECTIONS. THE DATE ANNOUNCED. SYDNEY, August 30. The Prime Minister announced to-day that the Federal elections will be held on November 17. THE COAL INDUSTRY. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. CANBERRA, August 30 . (Received August 30, at 11 p.m. ) In the House of Representatives Mr S. M. Bruce announced that the Federal Government would appoint a commission to inquire into the whole question of the coal industry. No definite steps would be taken, however, until negotiations with the interested parties now being carried on were completed. Mr Bruce added that the Government had discussed the matter with the New South Wales Government, and concluded that it was essential in the interests of the industry that, if there was to be no further reduction in the sale of coal, there should be a reduction in the price;