FEDERAL AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16942, 17 January 1923, Page 7

FEDERAL AFFAIRS.

ROSTER SYSTEM WITHDRAWN. | By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright | Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. , (Received January 17, 10.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 17. The Seameii’s Union has withdrawn the Roster system from the Wollongbnr and has agreed to man the vessel unconditionally. LARGE COLLIERIES CLOSE. SYDNEY, January 17. The secretary of the Miners’ Federation states that 1060 miners are idle on the South Coast in consequence of the closing down of two large collieries owing to a dispute between the owners and the Railway Commissioners. The federation has decided to ask the Government either to compel the owners to work the mines, or to take them over and work them in the interests of the general community. THREE KILLED IN EXPLOSION. MELBOURNE, January 17. -An explosion at a factory of the Australian Explosive Company at Deer Park near Mel bourne, occurred in a hut where four young women were filling cartridges. Florence Smith, aged twenty-seven, Maggie Nelson, aged twenty-one, and May Jackson, aged twenty, were killed, and Olive Baxter was seriously injured. Miss Nelson and Miss Jackson were killed instantly, beiifg shockingly mutilated. Miss Smith succumbed ten minutes after the accident-. The victims were just nbsnit to stop work for the dav when the explosion occurred. The cause is unknown.