AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2653, 27 December 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

WORK ON TRANSPORTS i -NTRUSTED TO TRADE UNIONS. £y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright \ Melbouro?, December 24. The Hon. J. A. Jensen/Minister of •' Marine, has dfegided that future alterations to transports will be carried out i by the Navy Department; The work was I; . previously entrusted to a'private firm, but this was unsatisfactory. Mr. Jenis now entrusting the, work to various unions. A foreman from each ; concerned will he appointed,' and .each : foreman will lie ipado responsible to !; .- 'the Construction Branch of the" Navy Department, which buys all tho matcri' ials. The unions wiH'.solect their own i, • foreman. Mr.. Jeusen realises that tiro ; . step-is I 'a bold one, but foels sure that now that each union; is responsible for ithe faithful carrying.iout,of .the work : entrusted to it, : it will endeavour N to rise to the.occasion.

• MILITARY POLICE. • .

NEW. SYSTEM STARTED. • ■ r Sydney, December 24/ ''A new military police system has been ■established at. the camp, by which pri.vales, for a month's satisfactory duty, • will bo awarded a'Jance-corporalcy. iu future a third offence of drunkenness or absence without leave .will be pun- ;. ished by the. culprits';being discharged froni the forces and haying their names advertised- Stringent arrangements i have been .made for clearing the city , . of mon who are drunk, out'with- ;■ out leave, or falsely representing them>—""selves as soldiers. The commandant strongly appeals to citizens to-refrain . from "shouting" for soldiers. He de-c-lares that 90 per cent; of those so tempted are not, used to drink. • ■ AUSTRALIAN CENERAL STAFP. : • A NEW APPOINTMENT. Sydney, December 24. Colonel Foster,'of the Sydney Uni.vorsity, has been appointed Chief of the Australian General Staff. MINERS' WAGES. 'A NEW SCALE. ■ (Rec. December 25, 5.5 p.m.) Melbourne. December 25. In the Arbitration Court Mr. Justice Powers fixed 10s. fid. as the wage for ■ an eight-hours' shift of skilled miners in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, but allowing lis. .Id. at Mount Ljcll. The term of the award-is three years from January 1. and provides that ui very wet places six hours shall be paid for at the-rato of eight-hours, TO FICHT CONSCRIPTION. JjABOUR FEDERATION'S ADVICE. (Rec. December 26, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, December 26. Tho' Broken Hill Labour Federation passed a resolution advising workers to ' Ignore the personal cards sent out b.y the War Committee, and also to organise kindred societies to fight conscription. FOOD SUPPLIES. , INQUIRIES TO BE MADE. - (Rec. December 26, 5.5 p.m..), Sydney, December 28. Mr. F. Flowers, Minister of Public Health, is proceeding to Europe to in- , quire into the food supply, particularly jneat, and to arrange with the Imperial Government for direct supplies.