AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21569, 15 February 1932, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. SYDNEY, February 13. Major Shand, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, who has returned from a visit to New Zealand, was impressed with the loyalty of New Zealanders and their determination to overcome the financial drift. He said he was convinced that New Zealand would recover from the depression before Australia did. Ho paid a tribute to the method of dealing with unemployment. He said there was no dole there as here. People must work for whatever money was expended on unemployment. Everywhere he went he found that the New Zealand people were amazed at the tolerance displayed towards Langism in New South Wales. KING’S SCHOOL CENTENARY. SYDNEY, February 13. (Received Feb. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) King’s School, Parramatta, is celebrating its centenary. Six hundred scholars from all parts of the Commenwealth and overseas attended a dinner at which the Governor, Sir Philip Game, was a guest. In a speech he emphasised the value of the public school spirit, which other speakers pointed out was strongly inculcated at King’s School. BASIC WAGE AND TAXATION. SYDNEY, February 13. (Received Feb. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) The Sydney Sun says that the State Labour caucus is gravely concerned owing to the condition of its finances, and with the project for an increase in the wage tax from one shilling to two shillings in the pound. As an offset to this the Government may continue_ to hold up the application to the Arbitration Court for a revision of the basic wage. “It is understood that Mr Lang takes the view that it is better to ask the basic wage earner to pay another four shillings to the Government than permit a reduction in wages which will largely benefit the employers.” Those who differ from Mr Lang contend that if wages are reduced in accordance with the fall 'in the cost of living a big handicap will be removed from industry in New South Wales and employment will be increased. The Labour Party is now in conference at Sydney, but the press, except the Labour organs, is excluded from its sittings. SYDNEY, February 14. (Received Feb. 15, at 1 a.m.) The State Labour Conference decided to fight the next election on the issue of the socialisation of all industrial and other activities. JAPANESE TRAINING SHIP. SYDNEY, February 13. (Received Feb. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) The Japanese training barquentine Shintoku Maru has arrived with 65 merchant marine cadets. The youngsters are smartly turned out. Their training is conducted on English lines. THUNDERSTORMS IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, February 13. (Received Feb. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) A severe thunderstorm swept the city and environs shortly alter mid-day. Lightning struck Mosman House and destroyed an attic. A violent wind for a few minutes did much damage. Farming districts in Melbourne suffered a similar visitation earlier in the day, lightning and rain doing some damage.