AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 3888, 18 September 1928, Page 51

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

MESSAGE TO CATHOLICS. SYDNEY, September 10. Cardinal Cerretti read a message from the Pope granting a 200 days’ indulgence to all Catholics who have iulfilled their obligations to the church. OVERDOSE OF SEDATIVE. SYDNEY, September 10. Lebbeus Hordern, who was well known in aviation circles and who recently presented Squadron-leader Kingsford Smith with £5OOO, and who is a brother of Sir Samuel Hordern, was found dead in bed at his residence. Death is believed to be due. to an overdose of a sedative which he was taking for insomnia. CARDINAL CERETTI. SYDNEY, September 11. One thousand guests attended the official banquet given by Cardinal Cerretti at the City Town Hall, which marked the close of the Eucharistic Congress. There was a glittering array of knights, consuls, politicians, military, naval, and civil representatives, including the Prime Minister (Mr Bruce) and Mr Bavin (State Premier). Rousing cheers were given for Mr Bruce, who declared that the Eucharistic Congress should make a substantial contribution towards the peace of the world. NEW SOUTH WALES ASSEMBLY. SYDNEY, September 12. The by-election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr Murray (Labour) in the State Assembly resulted in a victory for Mr J. E. Smith (Labour), who defeated Mr Skelton, the Protestant Labour candidate, by 284 votes. In the Assembly the attention of the Premier was drawn to the statement published in a Sydney newspaper (September 7) that a man convicted in Wellington of an abominable offence had the sentence suspended to allow him to go to Sydney, and that three similar offences in England had been suspended-in order that the convicted man might go to New South Wales.

Mr W. Bavin replied that he would have immediate" inquiries made into the subject, and that he had already taken action in respect to one case in England. He added that the 'House could rest assured that he would not accept the position that this could be the dumpinggroupd for undesirables. CHARGED WITH VAGRANCY. SYDNEY, September 15. Matthew Bigger, an alleged wealthy Australian, travelling first class on board the Aorangi, was arrested upon the arrival of that Vessel yesterday and charged with vagrancy. The detectives assert that Bigger, who is suave and well dressed, is required in connection with some American inquiries at Atlanta City. He was. released on probation.

COAL INDUSTRY. SYDNEY, September 15. The Government’s proposals for the stabilisation of the coal industry will involve a reduction of the selling price by 4s per ton on coal sold locally and Is per ton on coal sold overseas. The State Government will bear 2s of the reduction, the colliery proprietors Is, and the employees Is by means of periodical wage reductions. The Premier (Mr Bavin) is of the opinion that this scheme will enable at least 2500 extra men to be absorbed by the Newcastle fields before Christmas. The big steel works in Newcastle have signified their willingness to reduce the price of steel, which will lead to a larger output. ' AN OLD RUSE. SYDNEY, September 15. Bishop Chambers, of Tanganyika, who is taking a party of missionaries and nurses to South Africa, befriended a supposedly drunken man w’ho cannoned against him in the city crush yesterday. The bishop saved him from falling by embracing him, and handed him over to his two companions. Later on, as the bishop was entraining for Melbourne, he suddenly discovered that he had lost his wallet containing £3B and a letter of credit for £l5O, and 10 first class boat tickets for Africa. It then dawned upon him that the man had merely feigned drunkenness and relieved him of his , wallet with its contents. NATIONAL INSURANCE. SYDNEY, September 15. The Federal Treasurer, in outlining the National Insurance Bill, estimates that if the scheme comes into force in Jply, 1929, the number of employed contributors to it will be 1,600,000, of whom 363,000 will be females. Persons earning over £416 annually will be excluded. There are two classes of contributors —compulsory and voluntary—and the administration will follow the lines of the British scheme. Employers’ and employees’ contributions will amount to Is per week in the ease of males and 6d for females.