AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

COTTON SPINNING, LONDON, May 7. Mr R. P. Lawson, of Manchester, has returned from Australia, where he investigated the possibility of starting a large cotton spinning and dyeing works, entailing the expenditure of £500,000 of British capital and the employment of 1000 workers. Interviewed, he said he would not at present advise his codirectors to embark on the undertaking, as there was no prospect of a reason--11 e return owing to the three big obstacles —namely, the tariff, the varying Conditions, and the small demand. Ho estimated . the present local demand approximately at between £2.000,000 and £3,000,000, whereas it would not pay to start operations with less tian E 6,000,000. MAY DAY. BRISBANE, May 8. The May Day procession was noteworthy for the Red banners, on which there were. “ Long live Soviet Russia,” and similar inscriptions, also an effigy of Mr Bruce on a scaffold. PERTH, Alay 8. There was a Communist disturbance during ‘he May Day procession. Four Communists’ were arrested. The others were dispersed. HANDLING OF TIMBER. MELBOURNE, May 8. Giving evidence before Mr Justice Beeby, in the Arbitration Court, Mr Trevalyn Bland, of the Timber Discharging Company, produced figures showing that the handling both of American and Baltic timbers had fallen considerably, due to the workers slowing down. Mr Justice Beeby said that if it were proved that there was a definite diminution of output the ultimate result would be a reduction in the rates of pay. BROADCASTING COMPANIES. MELBOURNE, May 8. The broadcasting companies 3LO and 3AR have merged, and will henceforward be known as the Dominion Broadcasting Company. THE FEDERAL CAPITAL. NEW YORK, May 8. The New York Times in a leader says: * Americans, especially Washingtonians, ought to have a special kindness for Canberra. Downtrodden Washington folk will have warm hearts for the bondsmen of Canberra, for no votes have they in the Federal capita]. A commission rules them with the customary iron hand.” The newspaper, commenting on Canberra’s climate, says: “It is all the better fer Australians that they should ordinarily he sure of long vacations for their law makers.” bargaining in federal seats. SYDNEY, May 9. Mr George Cann, former Chief Secretary in the Lang Government, who was defeated at the last election, makes an additional charge of corruption relating to the manner in which a safe Federal Labour seat was alleged to have been provided for Mr Theodore. Mr Cann says that Mr L. Coleman, M.P.. was approached to resign his seat for Mr Theodore on the promise of a monetary consideration. Mr Coleman consulted a friend, who advised him to decline, saying: ‘‘You are not a. good Labour man if you acquiesce.” So Mr Coleman accepted the advice. "May 10. Air Coleman, M.P., repudiates Mr Cann’s statement associating him with the offer of monetary consideration to provide a safe Federal scat for Air Theodore. Air Coleman declares that Air Cann untruthfully states that he suspects that Air Cann intends to oppose him (Mr Coleman) at the next Federal election. Alay IL Arising out of Air Lambert’s allegation, supported by Air Cann, that a Labour emissary offered £BOOO for Air Lambert’s West Sydney seat for Air Theodore, the Federal Labour Caucus has summoned Air Lambert to attend the caucus next Wednesday for examination, asking Air Lambert to treat the matter is most urgent. A CONFERENCE OF UNIONS. SYDNEY, May 9. A conference of representatives 'of all unions on the coalfields adopted a resolution pledging itself to present a united front against any attempt to reduce wages. AUSTRALIAN COAL TRADE. POSITION OF COAL INDUSTRY. 4 SYDNEY, Alay 8. An official statement on the coal position was made by Air C. APDonald, chairman of the Northern Colliery Proprietors’ Association, who endorsed Air Brown’s comments that the coal position was parlous, and that in ordci' to stabilise the industry the owners, the miners, and the Government must make sacrifices. Foreign and interstate coal shipments had dropped 1,700,000 tons. Australia could not possibly compete with the coolie-produced. Japanese, and South African coal, while Swedish, French, Belgian, and German proprietors were complaining that the British owners were underselling them.

_ Air APDonald added that the other side of the picture was Government asinstance, which some countries were giving to the coal industry, but which was denied in Australia.

PROMINENT OWNER’S VIEWS. SYDNEY Alay 9. The Acting Premier (Air Butteiishaw) states that Mr Brown’s comments on the coal position do not represent the Government’s views. The Government realised that Australia had Host her export coal trade, and called a conference of owners and the miners’ representatives some time ago to try to find a solution of the stagnation. Their report was not yet ready. LONGER HOURS THE REMEDY. BROKEN HILL, Ma v 12. As the outcome of a conference between the mine owners and the union representatives the owners state that the , only method of keeping the mines going is by longer hours. The owners, in making this statement, declare that if metal prices fall no lower than at present the owners will do their best to avoid shutting down more mines, and will try to absorb more unemployed miners. ’I he unions are considering the proposals. but it is believed that they will reject them. TRADE UNION ATOVEAIENT. SYDNEY. May 9. An official statement by the executive of the Australian Workers’ Union declares unreservedly that the Australian trade union movement is in the grip of Moscow. In support of the contention the statement recites political and industrial vents for the past nine years. A DOCTOR’S TRAGIC AIISTAKE, SYDNEY, Ma v 10. A married woman at Parkes, Mrs Cross, died as the result of poisoning. A doctor informed the police that when he was mixing a tonic for her he had inadvertently used an overdose of strychnine in mistake for quinine. The police are holding an inquiry. Dr Barton was arrested at Parkes and charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Airs Cross. MEAT FOR THE ADMIRALTY. BRISBANE, Alay -10. The Queensland Alca-t Export Company secured a portion of the Admiralty contract. J SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL. SYDNEY, May 10. A further step in th e investigation, of the affairs of the City Council during the Labour regime has been taken. Air Justice Harvey has appointed the Royal Commission to inquire into the contract between the City Council and Alessrs Badcock and Wilcox, Ltd., for a steam-rais-ing plant for the new Bunnerong power station. CHARGE AGAINST S. Y. MALING. SYDNEY, Alay 10. The Royal. Commission, which is investigating civil affairs and the conduct °f officials and aidermen of the late City Council, has decided to lay a charge against S. Y. Maling, deputy-general manegr of the City Electricity Department, in connection with the payment of £lO 600 into the trust account of J Buckle, who is a friend of Alaling’s. t? i *• May 13 ‘ formal notice was served yesterday upon S. A. Alaling that he is suspended from the exercise of the functions of deputy general manager of the Sydney Municipal Council’s Electricity Department pending the result of an inquiry by the Royal Comimssion into matters connected with. certain sums of money, the ownership of which is shrouded in nnsterv. Alaling, who returned from New Zealand yesterday, will attend a sitting of the commission to-morrow. AN OFFICE GIRL’S EXPLOITS. BRISBANE. May 9. The story of an office girl’s exploits was tol.d in the Police Court. Eileen Wall, employed by the Perdriau Rubber Company, admitted falsifying accounts and embezzling £BOOO. She declared to a detective that she “ blow the whole lot ” in frocks, having bought miles of them. She also had a good time at the races. The case was adjourned. The police are trying to discover accomplices, the girl’s conversation indicating that there were several. WORK FOR THE UNEAIPLOYED. SYDNEY, May 9. Air Bavin announces that the Government is providing £1,000,000 for work for the unemployed, who are estimated to total 14,000, or 3 per cent, of the total wage-earners of New South Wales. THE TAAIWORTR AIURDER. SYDNEY, Alay 9. The death sentence passed on Cyril Thompson for the murder of a gambling companion at Tamworth has been commuted to life sentence. SYDNEY SEAMEN’S UNION. SYDNEY, Alay 9. A former official of the Sydney Seamen’s Union has been arrested on a charge of embezzling £295, the property of the union. His name has 'not been eminent.

SMITH’S NEWSPAPERS. SYDNEY, May 9. Air Mahoney, ex-member of the House of Representatives, has issued a writ el.iniing £lO,OOO damages for alleged libel against Smith’s Newspapers Limited. The alleged libel appeared in the Daily Guardian newspaper, the article concerning the West Sydney scat in the House of Representatives. BRISBANE, May 11. Air Justice Brennan has instructed h’.r. solicitors to issue a writ against Smith’s Newspapers, Limited, claiming £lO,OOO for allegel libel, published in Smith’s Weekly in an article headed “ Theodore Rents.” DARLINGHURST ASSAULT CASE. SYDNEY, May 9. The five men charged with assaulting Airs Aladdocks were acquitted. WOMAN DRUG SELLER FINED. SYDNEY, Alay 11. At the Police Court Alay Smith, 4G years of age, was fined £250 for having cocaine in her possession. The police declared that she was a notorious drug seller. Default was fixed at 12 months’ goal. COAL TRAIN BOLTS. SYDNEY, Alay 11. A coal train bolted near Aluswell Brook owing to failure of the brakes. The driver and fireman jumped off, and received minor injuries. The 3G loaded trucks, travelling at 50 miles an hour, piled in smithereens 30ft high on the side of the permanent way. The crew would undoubtedly have been killed if they had remained on the footplates. BEAAI WIRELESS TO CANADA. SYDNEY, Alay 11. The commercial beam wireless service between Australia and Canada commences within a few days. THE TWO NEW CRUISERS. CANBERRA, Alay 11. Air Bruce announced that Australia’s new cruisers, the Australia and the Canberra, are to have long test voyages and will be thoroughly tried out. The itinerary will include New Zealand. It is proposed that tiie Australia should leave Portsmouth at the end of July and the Canberra at the beginning of December. FEDERAL LABOUR SEATS. LABOUR IN NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY, May 12. The formation of a new Labour Party in New South Wales is believed imminent, consisting of former politicians and expelled Labourites. The new party is likely to do official Labour considerable damage al the forthcoming Federal elections. Mr J. Graves, president of the Australian Labour Party, officially warns workers to beware of the new organisation, and declares it is led by a crew of disgruntled Labour politicians. PRIMARY PRODUCERS. SYDNEY, Alay 11. The Acting Premier, Air E. A. Buttenshaw, announced in the Assembly that Cabinet had decided to provide funds to enable an enlargement of the limit of advances to primary producers under the Rural Bank Act. Ordinary long term loans will be increased from £1250 to £2OOO, and to facilitate the subdivision of estates for closer settlement the limit will be raised from £2OOO to £3OOO. ITALIAN TENNIS VICTORY. AIELBOURNE, Alay 11. Commenting on the great tennis victory of the Italians over the Australians, Consul Cavalier declared:— “ This is the best answer to Air Hughes, because it shows that the Dagoes, as he calls them, can do something. The Italian flag is flying high. TENNIS AND MIGRATION. CANBERRA, Alay 12. Air W. “ Billy ” Hughes, replying to the Italian Consul’s satire respecting the Davis Cup victory, said: “ The Australians are good sports, and the first to congratulate the Italians, but tennis has no relation to migration. The Italians, as migrants, are like quinces in an apple pie; all right if there are not too many of them.” A GREEN DIAMOND. SYDNEY, May 12. A rare gem, namely a green diamond, of which there are only two or three in the world, was discovered in an antique shop in Sydney, and was acquired bv a large firm of jewellers for 15s. The shopkeeper was unaware of its true value, which is about £2OO. ILLEGAL BETTING RAMPANT. SYDNEY, May 12. Air Bruntnell, Colonial Secretary, who is an ex-Labour official, is framing legislation to deal comprehensively with illegal shop and starting price betting, which is so rampant, allegedly ruining the attendance at certain race meetings, and the morals of the young and old. _ Air Bruntnell, who is a former Salvationist, is receiving warm support from all sections.