AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22808, 18 February 1936, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

INNISFAIL CANE CROP SPOILT BY TORRENTIAL RAIN BRISBANE. February 17. Torrential rain in the Innisfail district completely spoilt what promised to be a bountiful cane season. The damage amounts to thousands of pounds. About 40 passengers were marooned and are camping in the northern mail train at Innisfail, where 161 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. QUEENSLAND BEEF INDUSTRY BRISBANE, February 17. The serious position of the beef industry in Queensland is reflected in the announcement that one of the bestknown Shorthorn studs in Australia, the property of Mr. J. T. Scrymgeour, near Warwick, will be sold next month. Mr Scrymgeour stated: " T am selling out because it does not pay to keep going. There is very little demand for the best stock, and our herds arc definitely deteriorating. I shall turn my attention to breeding Clydesdale horses." A LEVY ON UNIONISTS SYDNEY, February 17. The executive of the Federal Ironworkers' Association decided to impose a levy of 2s a week on all adult members of the union and Is a week on junior members towards sustenance. The iron and steel workers at Port 'Kembla are at present on strike, and it is expected that other unions involved will augment the funds to enable the strike to be prolonged many months. INDICTMENT OF JAZZ SYDNEY, February 17. According to the Rev. N. C. Goss, of the Croydon Congregational Church, lawu mowers, saws, and factory whistles are needed to give modern jazz its proper interpretation. Vocal refrains set to jazz tunes are, he said, "an upsurge of barbarism. Vocal refrains of the silliest and sloppiest sentiment arc sung by men and women with voices, recalling a disorganised concertina, and are hard to forgive." NO EXTENSION OF STRIKE MELBOURNE, February 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 0.15 a.m.) A conference of Federal unions and the Australian Council of Trades Unions Emergency Committee, by a large majority, defeated a motion for extension of the seamen's strike. Mr Orr, the miners' delegate, proposed that all the unions represented should instruct their members not to undertake moving or repairing vessels manned by volunteers, but scanty support was given to the proposal. The onus for continuance of the strike is now on the seamen, but without hope of success in any direction. Many breakaways from the union are expected.

The conference decided to instruct Federal Labour members to move an adjournment when the House meets and demand repeal of the licensing system.

ELECTIONS IN THE WEST

PERTH. February 17

The outcome of the election is that the Labour Government's former majority of 10 has been reduced to three. The probable state of parties in the new House will be: Labour 2(5 Country Party 1" National !) Independent 1 Doubtful 1

Mr J. J. Kenncally, Minister of Unemployment and Industry, has been defeated by an Independent candidate (Mr T. J. Hughes), who contested the seat six years ago as a Labour candidate. There will be two women members in the new House.