AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 17 December 1926, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(Per Press Association—Copyright.) BRISBANE, December 16. Heavy rain greatly benefited all agricultural and dairying centres. SYDNEY, December 16. Negotiations are completed for the amalgamation of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney and the Bank of Victoria. The combined capital of the two Banks will be £63,829,000. MELBOURNE, December 16. Tenders have been accepted for eighty-two expropriated properties in New Guinea lor £1,362,000. The official valuation of the properties was Approximately £1,000,000. Australian soldiers secured fortyeight properties, and civilians five. MELBOURNE, December 16. Delegations from the League of Nations and twelve administrations, including New Zealand, concerned in health problems' in the Pacific, attended the International Pacific Health Conference which was opened by the Acting-Prime Minister (Dr. Earle Page), who welcomed the delegates to Australia. The CommcnwenJth delegate (Dr. C/rmpston) was elected President. He announced that none of the discussions would be communicated to the Press, but a report would be presented in due course to the. Administrations concerned. Papers are to ho read on problems affecting the health and social conditions cf the Pacific Islands, and of the troniral portions of Australia. None of these will be made public. HOBART, December 16. The Governor. Sir Jam*« O’Grady, got into hot water ever a soeech at a school gathering. Referring to a Bill which the Assembly passed and the Council threw "nt. he raid he would like to say something very strong about the Council. H? •■egretted it was a controversial matter, about which he could not speak. The matter was referred to in the Lo-islative Council. ,Mr Edwards protested npiiinst the Governor’s speech, which. h< s contended. was a breach, of privilege. He h: ,;! forgotten he stood in the pisi'tinn ot Governor—had forp-otten the fraditioof the office, and th"! invariable condui t of bis master, the King. Mr Shields described the Governor's remarks as unwise, indiscreet and im proper. HOBART, December 16. , - dr James O’Grady explained th n his objectionable speech was :xn attempt on his part to he humorous. When he saw the speech in print next d->v. he was surprised. He added that perhaps his humour was crude, hut any way, so that he might be

thoroughly understood now, he agreed that he had no right within his commission to criticise any work of either House of Parliament, or to join in any political controversy. i