AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21831, 19 December 1932, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

N.S, WALES GOVERNMENT. DEFEAT IN UPPER HOUSE. SYDNEY, December 17. The Government was ■ again defeated in the Upper House when an amendment by Mr Goncannon for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the Meat Industry Amendment Bill was carried. Later the Government received two further setbacks on the Landlord and Tenant Bill. RAILWAY COMMISSIONER. REASONS FOR RESIGNATION. SYDNEY, December 17. The reasons for the resignation of Mr Cleary, the Chief Railway Commissioner, are contained in a letter which Mr Cleary sent to the Premier. Mr Cleary pointed out that the recent threats in Parliament to reverse appointments whenever the opportunity arose were having the effect of demoralising the service, particularly in the lower branches. He was convinced that nothing short of drastic reorganisation would put the service into proper working order. Without such changes he would not attempt to carry on, but if he attempted to carry on the reorganisations it would be impossible to escape the suggestion of vindictiveness because of railway history, which was “ top vivid and recent to be ignored.”

SENTENCED FOR MANSLAUGHTER. MELBOURNE, December 17. (Received Dec. 17, at 6.5 p.m.) Ernest Jenkins (10) and Bernard Boyd (18) were convicted of the manslaughter of Joseph Sybley,an hotel manager, who was shot at Whittlesea on October 18. They were each sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. The judge declared the crime was startlingly callous. MISFORTUNES OF MINERS. ADELAIDE, December IS. (Received Dec. 18, at 6.30 p.m.) Prospectors who have returned from the Granites district in the north tell a sad story of disillusionment and hardship. Men on the field live on flour, water, tea and sugar. The drinking water is impregnated with , powdered mica, and many men are ill. Others, unable to find gold, have straggled back to Alice Springs, destitute, and reached Adelaide on free rail passes.