AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1919, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

[AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] BOLSHEVISM IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, March 25. Bolshevism is the main topic of conversation on the waterfront here. There is an increasing number of Finnish and Russian sailors on the wharves. They are deserters from ships. They openly discuss propaganda. They en,llst sympathy by adopting the attitude that they desire to return to ■Russia, hut are unable to obtain the Federal (Government’s permission to leave.

The Government is considering more stringent action against the deserters

The Brisbane Russian Society consists of a thousand members. AUSTRALIA'S STATE STEAMERS. MELBOURNE, March 25. The Federal Minister of Shipping states the Commonwealth Government lias no intention of sitting down quietly and allowing itself to be squeezed out by th e big shipping ring. They consider that no country in the world is likely to suffer more than Australia, through the action of this shipping ring. The extension of the shipbuilding programme of the Federal Government, bv tile construction of four more steel vessels, will shortly received the Cabinet's consideration. Tlie vessels will be of 10,000 tons each and will ho fitted with refrigerating space. Their speed will he 12£ knots. AN HYSTERICAL STATEMENT. SYDNEY, March 25. Reverend Watson, iu a letter to the Press, now says his statements about slaughters at the Methodist Conference did not refer to the Northern Territory, hut were part of general resume of a treatment of the blacks since the convict days. SYDNEY, March 25. The entries for the A.J.C. Autumn Meeting total only 295, compared with 595 last year.