AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1920, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

GENERAL ITEMS. By Tel»eraph.-*Press Aaan—Copyright. ' . . Sydney, Sept.- 22. Painters at the Cockatoo Government dockyards refused to sign a 48-hours agreement, and were not permitted to start work. They have been given till Tuesday to acquiesce, failing which they will be paid off. Miss Partridge, the escaped nun, interviewed, said she had no wish to Bee her brother at present, as she felt he was endeavoring to take her back to conventual life. She preferred the company of those who had befriended her, until she was strong enough to return to Ireland. Brisbane, Sept; 22. An aeroplane, with Lieut. Bartlett in charge, and carrying two passengers, came to grief at an altitude of 5000 feet when flying between Taroom and Gayndah. The engine failed and the machine crashed into a tree. Lieut. Bartlett broke a leg in three places, and one passenger was also severely injured. Both are inmates of the Taroom hospital. Sydney, Sept. 22. Mr. James has been appointed an act-ing-judsje for six months. The appointment will be made permanent next year. Board of Trade, evidence has disclosed that clothing and footwear have advanced by 25 per cent, compared with the 1919 prices. Mr. Kelly, secretary of the Swimming Union of Australia, has received wor.d that Kahanamoku is coming to Australia with Kealoha in December. Vernot has not yet replied. The Assembly passed a resolution, on the motion of Mr. Weame, leader of the Progressives, that the Income Tax Act be amended to tax farmers on their average earnings in five years to allow for losses. Melbourne, Sept. 22. A cyclonic storm at Chiltern, on the route of the main telegraphic lines between Sydney and Melbourne, dislocated inter-State communication. The storm was of such force that it blew a house over, while others were unroofed. Tn the House of Representatives the War Service Homes Bill was 1 read a second time. 'Mr\ Blakley, discussing the Queensland timber purchase, said that the Queensland Government four years ago offered the same property for £95,000 less. Since then 30,000,000 feet of timber had been taken off, Mr. Ryan .did not remember the offer being made while he was Premier of Queensland, but lie advocated a commission to inquire into the deal. Adelaide, Sept, 22. Mr. Barwell, the Premier, informed a deputation that he was introducing drastic legislation to obliterate clandestine bookmaking, which still existed, despite the law absolutely prohibiting bookmakers in the State. The new legislation would provide a heavy penalty for a first offence and imprisonment for subsequent offences. Melbourne, Sept. 22. Giving evidence at the forty-hour week inquiry, an officer of'the Commonwealth Statistician's department submitted .figures showing that goods now costing Wholesale over £2 could be purchased in 1910 for £l. Comparing the years of 1913 and 1918-19, the Commonwealth's output had decreased by 20 per cent,, the values of such output being £101,500,000 and £127,000,000 respectively. The area under wheat had decreased by 3,200,000 acres: cattle had decreased by 100,000, sheep bv IOiOGO,000, wool by 15,000,0001b. and butter by 17,000,0001b. If prices had remained unchanged, the value of general products for 1918-19 would have been £177,750,000, compared with £218,250,000 in 1913. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, ' ''