AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21828, 15 December 1932, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE MORATORIUM BILL. GUARANTOR CLAUSE PASSED. SYDNEY, December 14. After two more Upper House defeats on the Moratorium Bill, the Government passed the vital guarantor clause, which was the cause of last week's setback, without a division. The clauses defeated last week were reinstated. RIVERINA BUSH FIRES. LARGE AREA SWEPT. SYDNEY, December 14. Bush fires destroyed over 30,000 acres of grassland in the Riverina. An outbreak near Oaklands swept 17,000 acres, destroyed large numbers of sheep, i-azed fencing, and cut off homesteads before it was subdued by 200 firefighters. Spreading to the railway line, the fire ignited sleepers, and forced the train from Urana to Oaklands to turn back. Smaller outbreaks occurred at other centres, sheep and cattle perishing. QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT. A MEMBER ASSAULTED. BRISBANE, December. 14. A member of the Assembly assaulted another while the House was in session. This is the first incident of the kind in the history of the Queensland Parliament. While in committee, Mr E. Llewelyn (Labour) said that Mr E, Maher (Country Party) had a filthy mind. Mr Maher walked across the Chamber, and struck Mr Llewelyn in the face. Mr Maher was suspended for the remainder of the session. .batei the Premier moved that Mr Maher be summoned to attend at the bar of the House to answer a charge of having assaulted Mr Llewelyn. This was agreed to.

BREACH OF CONTRACT. DAMAGES AGAINST SINGER. SYDNEY, December 14. (Received Dec. 15, at 1 a.m.) In the Supreme Court Donald Dim O’Connor, of < Auckland, sued John Brownlee, the operatic singer, to recover £514 12s as damages for alleged breach of contract. Plaintiff claimed that this amount covered his engagement as defendant’s manager for a conceit tour of Australia and New Zealand, and money outstanding. The defendant denied that there was a contract, and alleged failure by plaintiff to state proper accounts. The jury found for plaintiff, and awarded him £174 12s as damages. DIRT TRACK RIDER INJURED. NATIVE OF NEW ZEALAND. SYDNEY, December 14. (Received Dec. 15, at 1 a.m.) William Lamberton, aged 21, of Canterbury, New Zealand, who competes at dirt track races here, was seriously injured in a collision between his bicycle and a motor lorry at Petersham. Lamberton suffered a broken nose and an injured eye, and probably a fracture of the skull. HARVESTING IN FULL SWING. SYDNEY, December 14. (Received Dec. 15, at 1 a.m.) Wheat harvesting in New South Wales is in full progress, and there is tremendous activity throughout the country, with unprecedented congestion at the silos. There is a record crop, with a record yield of 67,000,000 bushels, in this State, mostly of splendid quality. Western Australia is having an improved harvest of good quality grain, but the yields in South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland are not up to the earlier estimates owing to rust, insect pests, and a rainfall under the average.