AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 16 May 1922, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

CHARGES AGAINST COMMUNIST SCHOOL. CONTROVERSY BETWEEN LEY AND GARDEN. Sydney, this day. Mr Garden, in replying to Mr Ley covers much of his previous reply, but adds that Mr Ley shifted his ground as he was unable to prove the hcarges agains t the Communist and directs his charges against the Union leaders, whom he accused of inciting strikes. Mr Ley, in retaliating, finally quoted the utterances of several of the leading Unionists, wherein direct action is suggested if arbitration decisions r,. unsatisfactory. GROWTH OF COMMUNISM. ‘AUSTRALIA’S DANGER. SYDNEY, May 15. AL- Ley, Minister of Justice, dealing with the growth of Communism in the Labour movement, instanced several recent attempts to promote sectional strikes with a view to involving other unions. Only w-hen they found that the weight of public opinion was against them were the attempts abandoned, but they are still being engineered in other directions. He stressed the serious possibility of widespread trouble and urged the workers to assert themselves and not allow themselves to be led like sheep io the slaughter by imported extremists, who could not exist except by causing strife and disunion. GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. CHARGED WITH WAGE REDUCTION. On the other hand, the Government is being criticised both by members inside its own Party and outside, for delay in dealing with the increasing unemployed. The difficulty of the new basic wage adds complications, as, if the Government gazettes it, it will mean that the salaries of public servants will be reduced 7 s weekly.

Opponents, particularly Labourites, are utilising these factors in support of the contention that the Government policy aims at the general reduction of’ wages and lengthening hours of labour. This is strenuously refuted by members of the Cabinet who point out that the Government has nothing whatever to do with the reduction of wages which is the function of the <aourts.

SHIPS RUSH FOR PORT. SYDNEY, May 15. A cyclonic disturbance is seriously hampering shipping, and a number of vessels are eagerly making for the nearest ports. The cyclone is passing north and normal conditions are expected on Tuesday. GUARDED SEAMEN DISAPPEAR. DISCOVERED ON ANOTHER VESSEL. SYDNEY, May 15. The escape of two French prisoners from the Elkanara, while coaling at Newcastle is mysterious. They disappeared during the night, though apparently securely confined with a. guard over them. The steamer departed for New' Caledonia and subsequently the two escapees were captured aboard a ship which was scheduled to leave Newcastle for Durban to-day. CHARGE OF VAGRANCY. MEN WITH HISTORIES. The two French prisoners were tried at the Newcastle Court for vagrancy and remanded till May 22. Both have been banished for life by the French Government. One, Tulop, was an airman in the same force as Carpi nr. He was also a boxer at Paris, .. .ng beaten Criqui, who recently visited Australia. He refused to fight against the Bolsheviks on rhe Servian front, went to Spain, and was charged with desertion on returning to France. He is an undergradiHite and lias left a wife and children in France;

The other prisoner, Sziber, is a Roumanian. He was banished on a charge of the obstruction of French authorities when the occupation of Hungary commenced after the Armistice was declared.

He was engaged in military’ police duties at a railway station in Hungary,

and refused to hand over the railway facilities to the invading army. It is thought that France will probably commence extradition proceedings, and friends of the prisoners in Newcastle and Sydney are suggesting an appeal for funds to fight the case. CONGREGATIONALISTS’ VOTING. MAJORITY FAVOURABLE. SYDNEY, May 15. The Congregational Conference adopted the amended basis doctrine, drawn up by the Presbyterian Joint Committee on Church Union. The report stated that the voting resulted 9936 in favour and 1524 against throughout the Commonwealth, representing 60 per cent, of the membership, and 80 to 85 per cent, of the effective membership. A resolution was passed authorising the Executive to take the necessary steps in conjunction with other Churches for the consummation of Union, recommending the Stare churches to foster the spirit of union by promoting co-operation with the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches as the precursor of a more comprehensive movement..