SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20490, 8 March 1932, Page 9

SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE.

* OPENING CEREMONY. NEW ZEALAND TO TAKE PART. (UKITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH— COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 7th, 7 p.m.) . SYDNEY, March 7. The New Zealand Government will , participate in the British Empire float , at tho opening of the Sydney harbour > bridge. An historical representation of a dusky maid in typical Maori dress will sit at the right hand of Britannia in a group. The part will bo taken by Jilrs A. Thorjiliill, a daughter of Mr Charles Burton, of Tauranga. j WATERSIDE AWARD WAGES IN AUSTRALIA. " I ABUSE OF PREFERENCE PRIVILEGE. (llcceived March 7th, 8 10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 7. Judge Eeeby, president of tho Fedoral Arbitration Court, refused the Watorsido Workers' Federation's application for preference for its members. Ho fixed tho rate for ordinary time at 2s 4d an hour, which is an increase of 2-} d for all States, except Queensland, where it is a reduction of 31 d. Judge Becby said that timo and again this union had abused the preference privilege by striking and the Court could not now grant preference except as against those employers who discriminated against unionists; nor could the Court bo guided by political changes or tho union's contention that industrial peace was bound up in granting absolute preference to unionists. COLONEL BRINSMEAD. A PATHETIC FIGURE. EFFECTS OF AEROPLANE CRASH. (Received March 7th, 8.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 7. Colonel H. C. Brinsmead, Comptroller of Civil Aviation in Australia, who was gravely injured in the Dutch air-mail aeroplane smash near Bangkok, reached Sydney aboard the Nieuw Zccland. Ho was attended by a young aviator pettyoflicer from Melbourne. Colonel Brinsmead is a pathetic figure of his former self. He is a partial cripple, his eyesight and spoech being affected, but he is able to whisper. He was much improved and benefited by tho sea trip from Java, and ho expects that in a few months he will bo nearly right. Mrs Brinsmead inet him at Brisbane. A large number of flying men cordially welcomed tho patient at the ship's side, and an aorial escort was provided the vessol prior to berthing. AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS. FAVOURABLE TRADE BALANCE.

♦ SYDNEY, March 7. Australian exports for tho past seven months were valued at £46,315,000, or £59,827,000 in Australian currency, a decline of £6,889,000 on the last year. Imports fell £18,774,000 to £24,859,000. The favourable balance of trade for the ppriod was therefore £21,456,000. CRIME INCREASES. POLICE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. SYDNEY, February 26. According to tho annual report of the Commissioner of Police (Mr Chikls), for the year ended December 31st last, there was a arge increase in crime under the headings of offences against property without violence, forgery, and offences against the currency. The increase amounted to 21(38 cases. There was a decrease of 237 cases in respect of offences against the person and offences against property with violence. Minor offences, such as offences against good order and breaches of Acts generally shewed the large decrease of 4726 cases. Taking the number of eases under all headings, the return discloses a decrease of 2795 cases. • There has been a gradual decrease since 1928 in tho total number of offenders dealt with. Last year's total was 121,743, a decrease of 2795 compared with 1930, and a decrease or 16.,336 compared with 1928. Of the total in 1931, >">o fewer than 32,997 cases related to breaches of the traffio laws. Against Order. The large decrease under the heading offences against good order was practically accounted for by the decrease in the number of oases or drunkenness (4721) and riotous or offensive behaviour (1496). While figures for the whole State show a fairly large decrease, the statistics for the metropolitan area disclose the substantial increase of 2555 cases-, including an increase of 478 cases of offences against property without violence, and an ln " crease . of 137 cases of forgery and offences against the currency. Offences against the person and offences against property with violence show decreases in the metropolitan area of 90 and 116 respectively. During the year the of hotels in the metropolitan area was 538. an increase.of one; the number of applications to supply liquor with meals granted, 47 ; the number of spirit merchants' licenses, 113 (a decrease ot 11); and the number of Australian wine licenses, 160. Traffic Offences. " During 1931, 39- j persons wero convicted for driving motor, vehicles while under the influence of liquor, 211 naming their licenses suspended by the courts. The number of accidents in the public streets showed a decrease ot 68 persons killed, and a decrease or 1578 in tho number of persons injured. During 1931, 1698 persons were arrested for, breaches of the Gaming and Betting Act, on whom fines And forfeitures totalling £12,519 were inllicted. For breathes of the Liquor Act, 108 arrests were made, the fines totalling £2458.