AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

liquor Referendum. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 29, 10.30 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 29. The Lezs Liquor Bill will probably be dropped, as a meeting of Nationalists was unable to agree to a date on which to hold a prohibition referendum and until an agreement is reached the Bill will not be proceeded with. At a meeting of prohibitionists, Mr. Lane was supported almost entirely by non-prohibitionist members in his effort to force the taking of a referendum at or before the next elections. MORE COLLIERIES IDLE. Received Nov. 29, 10.30 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 29. Two more of the northern collieries, Hebbrun number two and Seaham number two are idled as the result of stopwork meetings. MORTALITY AMONG CATTLE. Received Nov. 29, 9 pjn. Sydney, Nov. 29. Owing to the recent mortality on cattle boats trading between Darwin and Manila, the Federal stock inspector has proceeded to Manila to investigate. Reports state the cause of the mortality is anthrax, of which there is an outbreak in the Philippines.

’ MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. 1 Received Nov. 29, 9 p.m. 1 Sydney, Nov. 29. 1 Peter Masfarlane was acquitted on a r charge of the manslaughter of John Stuart Ramsay. Macfarlane was the driver of a motor in which Ramsay And ’ I other Parliamentary officials were seated when it collided with a milk lorry. ’ SYDNEY’S TRAFFIC LAWS. Received Nov. 29, 9 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 29. * In connection with the motorists’ re1 volt against the police regulations, a crowded meeting of those protesting ; against the over zeal of the traffic police and the alleged obsolete regulations, carried resolutions emphatically protesting against the harsh administration of the traffic regulations, and appointed a committee to make recommendations to the authorities with a view to bringing the regulations up to modern requirements. Speakers admitted that while most of the traffic police were courteous, some had no idea of their duties. PROMISING GOLD FIND. Received Nov. 29, 9 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 29. A promising gold find is reported near Lithgow, on the line of the old Nikellar reef, which years ago gave rich returns. A five foot reef extends for a quarter of a mile, the stone assaying five ounces to the ton. PREFERRED GAOL. Received Nov. 29, 9 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 29. As a protest against the fines imposed upon them for leaving work at the Ivanhoe colliery ten weeks ago, since when it has been idle, seventy miners marched four deep to Lithgow, declaring their intention of going to gaol rather than pay. About thirty relented and paid the fines, and the police told the balance to go home until warrants were issued. The proceedings

were quite orderly. The trouble arose over a dispute about the hewing rate?. THE MELBOURNE RIOTS. . Received Nov. 29, 9 p.m. Melbourne, Nov. 29. - The Premier reiterated to a deputation of city business men representing the riot sufferers’ defence league that the Government accepted no responsibility for the damage to property caused during the recent riote, but in view of the representations made he promised to consider the question. THREAT OF MEAT FAMINE. Received Nov. 29, 9 p.m. Adelaide, Nov. 29. The city is threatened with a meat famine as a result of a strike of drivers of motors engaged in delivering meat from the abattoirs, who sure demanding an increase in wages from £4 15s to £5 7s weekly. Most of the butchers are closing owing to the lack of supplies. A few have only sufficient to last to the end of the week. CHARGE OF FRAUD. Received Nov. 29, 11.25 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 29. Morris Jacobs, Alfred Joyce, Charles von Geyer, and Edward Gardiner were remanded on charges of forging and uttering betting tickets. An official of the Government printing office gave evidence that a large number of the betting tickets found on accused were imitations and were not printed at the Government ■ajiatiag ’