AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21266, 21 February 1931, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

IMPRISONED COMMUNISTS. CONGRESS DEMANDS RELEASE. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, February 20. The Australian Council of Trades Unions Congress decided to demand the release of the Communists who were recently imprisoned in connection with the outrage on a house at Clovelly, and to protest to the Federal Government in support of the Malay and Japanese divers on the pearling grounds who, desiring to preserve their living conditions, would have to face dismissal on Saturday.

FLOOD AFTERMATH. A PLAGUE OF CRICKETS. SYDNEY, Febvuary 20. As the result of thd recent floods in the north millions of crickets have invaded the houses on low-lying areas. They are so thick in some - places _ at Coraki that the woodwork on the buildings is invisible. Snakes are also plentiful. Three men killed 182 in one day. —» —— MAKURA PASSENGER DETAINED. SYDNEY, February 20. Before the Makura sailed yesterday the sheriff’s officer visited the ship, and returned to the wharf with a first class passenger, whose luggage followed. SYDNEY SWELTERING. MANY PEOPLE COLLAPSE. SYDNEY, February 20. (Received Feb. 20, at 11.30 p.m.) Citizens in Sydney have sweltered during the past three days. The humidity has been terrific and a fierce hot wind to-day, while banishing the mugginesa, drove the mercury to 104 degrees at 2.10 in the afternoon, intensifying the discomforture and causing many people to collapse. The weather cooled off towards evening and the respite was very welcome. FALSE PRETENCES. AN AGENT' SENTENCED. SYDNEY, February 2f. (Received Feb. 20, at 10 p.m.) At the quarter sessions to-day Clifton Arthur Luke, aged 29, an agent, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on three charges of false pretences. Luke, according to the evidence, posed as the agent of the~“ British-Australian Trust,” which propose to lehd large sums of money to the Commonwealth Government. He told a fanciful tale of millions for investment, and brought in the names of Mr Stanley Bruce (the former Prime Minister), Lord Derby, and several British financial magnates who were supposed to be behind the scheme. Finally he induced three persons here to advance sums aggregating £I3OO, which he converted to his own use. MURDERER’S APPEAL FAILS. SYDNEY, February 20.' (Received Feb. 20, at 11 p.m.) The appeal of William Schubert, who was sentenced to death for the murder of his daughter near Newcastle in December, 1929, against his conviction was dismissed by the Court of Criminal Appeal.