AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 37

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Mr Charles Taylor, member for Windsor, has been eieeteu leader of the Queensland National Party, vice Mr Barnes. Owing to a motor caosizing at Mowra, New South Wales. Patrick Caffrey and Celie Watts were killed outright. Minnie Caffery was seriously injured. , It is estimated that the New South W ales deficit; will total £3,000,000. Cabinet is considering a scheme for economising. According to the interim census figures it is expected that Victoria will lose two seats, and that New South Wales win gam two in the Commonwealth Parliament. In the Federal House of Representatives Sir Joseph Cook confirmed the report that a Commonwealth loan is contemplated, it is understood that the amount will be £IO,COO,COO. . „ . The liquor trade’s employees in Sydney threaten to withdraw from affiliation to the Labour Council in consequence of the latter’s decision in favour of prohibition. An action has been commenced m which Mr J. T. Ryan (Labour Leader in the Federal Parliament) is claiming £IO,OOO damages from the Hobart Mercury newspaper for alleged libel. Captain Carmichael, who originated the New South Wales State Orchestra scheme when he was Minister of Education, has undertaken organising work in connection with raising a guarantee fund. J. AT. Worthington. Serge-ant-at-Arms m the Victorian State Parliament, has been committed for trial on a charge of corruptly receiving money. . . The interim report of the commission ot inquiry into the alleged irregularities at the Federal Government shipbuilding yards at Cockatoo Island recommends a resumption of work. Sir J. Cook, Treasurer, states that with the money available in the new financial year work will soon be resumed there. SMA LLPO X REGULATJONS. Air Kelly, ex-Minister of the Navy, who is a passenger by the Niagara at Sydney, complained that insufficient precautions are taken by the quarantine authorities to prevent smallpox from spreading to the community. He stated that numbers of passengers were released on their own statement that they had been vaccinated within seven years. The' Acting Chief Quarantine Officer denies Kelly’s allegations, and states that all necessary precautions were taken before the Niagara’s passengers were released. The Niagara case in Sydney has been definitely diagnosed as mild smallpox. The passengers and crew will be detained in quarantine till June 19. The released passengers will report daily till June 19. The patient, who embarked at Vancouver, suggests that she contracted the malady on the west coast of America. AEROPLANE ACCIDENT. An aeroplane carshed at Gloucester (New South Wales), killing Captain Henry Hawkins, who gained the Military Cross, Legion of Honour, and other decorations during the war, and Thomas Laurie, a passenger. The pilot had ascended about 150 ft when the engine appeared to cut out, and the machine crashed, pinning Ijiurie and Hawkins underneath. Another passenger, named Sheddon, was thrown clear, and only slightly injured.