AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 7 March 1932, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

♦ THE AUSTRALIAN TARIFF. COMPLAINT OF TOBACCOGROWERS. (united tress f.lectric TELEGRAPH— COPY3IGTIT.) CANBERRA, March 5. Replying to the tobacco-growers' deputation, Mr J. A. Lyons (Prime Minister) deprecated slipshod and irresponsible statements by the growers, who complained that the tariff change was equivalent to putting them on the dole. Mr Lyons said it would pay to put everyone in the tobacco industry on the dole rather than let things continue on the old basis. His policy was to be guided by the Tariff Board. The tobacco industry was receiving protection up to 300 per cent., and the speakers admitted that tho profits were £53 an acre. If the tobacco revenue was not obtainable, heavy Public Service retrenchment would bo inevitable, pensions must suffer, and unemployment increase. He promised to consider a aifferential excise rate of 5s 4d for imported leaf and 3? 4d on local growi^. Dr. Earl Page (Leader of the Country Party) said this would return as much as the Government's plan. TWO MEN KILLED. COPPER PIPE FALLS FROM SLING. SYDNEY, March 5. While the steamer Ormiston was being overhauled at Cockatoo Dock a halfton copper pipe broke from a sling and crushed a party of men in the engine-room. F. J. Ingram, sixth engineer, and E. B Dobbins, a labourer, were killed. Arthur Hill, a fitter, suffered a broken | thigh, and S. Payne a minor injury. FIRE IN STEAMER'S HOLD. RACE BACK TO PORT. SYDNEY, March 5. . The Howard Smitli inter-State steamer Time, which left Sydney for Melbourne yesterday; wirelessed that fire had broken out in a holcj when three" hours out. She raced back, and anchored in the harbour early this morning, enveloped in 6moke. . , The cargo includes coal, methylated spirits and benzine. ' A fire float is standing by to flood-the hold. OUTBREAK QUELLED. DAMAGE TO CARGO ABOUT £5000." (Received March 6th, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 6. The fire aboard the steamer Time was quelled an/hour after the vessel reached jiort. It is estimated that the damage to the cargo will not exceed £SOOO. The ship is undamaged. ■ The firemen had an'exceedingly dimcr.lt task and were compelled to remove fifty bales of wool before they reached the seat of the fire. A considerable quantity of inflammable cargo was nboard the vessel, which was scheduled to resume her voyage to-morrow.