AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 896, 16 August 1910, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE. Sydney, August 10. Tho slaughtermen employed at the Globe Island Abattoirs, Sydney—4oo in nil— went on strike on Saturday, August G, expressing their determination not to resume work unless their demands (tho continuation of the wage system instead of piecework and a slight' increase of pay) were complied with by the carcass butchers. The men wore engaged in slaughtering sheep until 1. o'clock on Saturday. Then they were handed their week's wages, and quietly left, taking their knives and steels with them.

The clause of tho Industrial Disputes Act with resp'ect to punishing men who go out on strike and caiisc inconvenience to the public cannot, it is said, be applied to Glebe. Island. The conditions there are- that tho men can be discharged or can quit employment at a moment's notice, and members of the union have only taken advantage of these conditions. Both the carcass butchers and tho selling agents have held meetings, but nothing to alter the situation has occurred. The men complain that, while at the recent conference the employers arranged satisfactory conditions with respect to country slaughtering-houses, they insisted on altering the system of work at Glebe Island, nnd on paying 2s. less per hundred sheep than is to bo paid in the country, and to bring the men out at 4 o'clock in tho morning, instead of 0 as at present. Piecework practically meant, they contend, that they might be brought out at this early hour to find that they could secure only a few hours' work. The employers' contention is that they have been paying too much for slaughtering in the past, and that piecework is the only suitable system which can operate at Glebe Island. Meanwhile there is plenty of mqat in the refrigerators to keep Sydney going for soino days at least. Moreover, Glebe Island is not the only place where they kill beef and mutton.

Strike Leaders Released. Contrary to expectations, William Brennan and Andrew Gray, two of the coal strike prisoners, vere released from Imthurst gnol aiter six months' incarceration on the evening .of Monday, August- 8. Both were in the act. of preparing for bed when their cell doors swung open, and they were informed by an official Uwt they wero to be liberated there and tht-n,- instead ut G. 30 the following morning, as originally arranged. It did not take the prisoners long to change their clothes, and in; a few minutes they had regained their liberty. On tho Tuesday morning they were to nave been met at the prison gates by delegates from Newcastle and various parts of the western district, besides a large number of Bathurst sympathisers, and brought.to town in a drag, but when they emerged from the shadow of the gaol walls on Monday night there was nobody to meet them. Interviewed on the Monday night, Brennan said that he had no reason to complain of his treatment in gaol. He was in. a bad state of health, ivhen he, Y»s convicted, ami the prison authorities did all that was possible and consistent with regulations to secure his recovery. When he went to Sydney for trial ho was over list, in weight, but at the time of his conviction he had fallen away to 7st. ,121b. He had gone up considerably, however, and now turned tho scales at fist. 01b,

Gray, in an interview, said /that, ho enjoyed absolutely no privileges' in gaol. He was treated tho snme as any other fn'isouer, and had to conform to the relations. He had no fault to find with the gaol officials.' Gray wound up with a complaint about. being handcuffed to criminals whilst being brought to Hath, itrst. ./'That is the only thing I have to complain about," lie said, "they chained me to four ciiminnls, somo of whom, had been convicted two or threo times,-and I did not like it, bnt I .'have no complaint to make about my treatment :in gaol.

Advancement of Science. Mr % .Fisher announced amid tho plau- : dits of the Federal House of Representatives on Tuesday night that the Government had decided to make an effort to secure 1 that the British Association for the Advancement of Sciericeshould hold a. conference in Australia, >in 11)13. or 1914. From l time to time, he said, communications had been .directed to the Australian Governments, suggesting that if some consideration were offered, it would be possible to induce this influential body to bold its conference iu Australia. -The British Association had met on the last occasiou in South Africa, and something like .£6OOO was found necessary to enable'the members'to assembly there. To invite- them to Australia, would probably mean a much greater expenditure than that, but the Government was of opinion that tho meeting of such an association iu Australia' would, afford Australia not only an advertisement, but that the invitation would be a fitting compliment to the, most distinguished' men of our nation in scientific matters. "The Government;" Mr. Fisher added, "is, therefore, inclined -to send this invitation. The cost will be about .£IO,OOO, and I havb ascertained that many of the States are willing, to co-operate in our invitation." Mr. Deakiu cordially congratulated, the Prime Minister on his decision, and trusted that it would receive warm approbation from all sides. Other members spoko to similar-effect. . "Mated" by Wireless. The P. and O. mail ,steamer 'Morea, which arrived at Melbourne from London .on Monday, August 7, isMhe champion wireless chess ship. When she was steaming between Suez mid Colombo the Dutch liner Rembrandt got into communication with her by wireless'. "Will you play us a chess match, and give us an opportunity of avenging -'your- defeat of tho Wilis?" asked the Eembrandt. The Marconi operator on tho Morea (Mr. C. A. Hill) .promptly accepted the"challei!ge. Describing the incident, Mr. Hill said: ' "Arrangements were made for the game. Tho Morea recently played the Dutch ' steamer Wilis chess by wireless,, and beat her hollow, and the Rembrandt, having a good exponent of tho game on board, no doubt wanted to get' oven with us. When I. accepted the challenge I was a bit dubious about the result, but suddenly remembering that wo had Dr. Carment, tho noted Scotch player, on board, I felt very confident. Dr. Carment readily volunteered to takp up the cudgels for ; the Morea, and the. match was started. i Play commenced at 2 p.m. on July 20, i and stopped at 0 p.m. on the same day. llt was resumed at 10 o'clock the next morning, and, except for intervals for meals, continued until 10 o'clock that night, when Dr. Carment mated his opponent on the G9th move, and won for the Morea. Tho passengers followed' the. game with great interest, and when I' announced that the Morea had won they 'chaired' Dr. Carment. The vessels wero 130 miles apart when the game started, but by the finish the Morea had gained about 70 miles on the Dutch boat. "The Dutchman caught a Tartar," ; added Mr. Hill. "Their champion, wo learned afterwards, • was Mr. Meesters, who- has a great record. It was very amusing to receive the query from Rembrandt asking who was our representative. Of course, I chaffed the operator on the-Rembrandt, but he took it in good spirit," Victoria's New Coat of Arms. Tho King has issued his warrant granting to.the Stale of Victoria n new coat of arms. The design includes the jive stars of the Southern Cross, two female figures as supporters, ono representing. Peace and the other Prosperity. The crest consists of what is described as a deroikangaroo holding an Imperial Crown in its paws.