AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1920, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

f AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CiHB ASSOCIATION]

FEDERAL POLITICS. BRISBANE, January 5. Mr Higgs, who was Deputy Labour leader in the Federal Parliament last session in returning thanks for his election, said the Labour Party had failed in its attempt to win an absolute majority of the Jseats. He thought the failure was largely owing to outside executives, controlling the Parlia--1 riientary Labour -Party and dictating its policy. ‘Some of these men pretended to be revolutionists, but were most impracticable and impossible. Yet they considered themselves- entitled to intjorpriet the Labour platform and dictate its policy. He condemned Labour’s attitude against the Referendum proposals. • Mr Higgs went on to suggest Labour now seeking a Coalition with the Farmers. Party. This he said, should be done to meet the new political situation.

MELBOURNE, January 5. The President of the Australian Labour Party has replied to Mr Higgs. He declares that Mr Higgs suggestion for a coalition of Labour with the Farmers Party is impossible. Such a fusion would, he points out, mean a compromise, and he emphasises that it is essential that the Labour Party should remain free and untrammelled

STEWARDS DEMAND. SYDNEY, Jan. 5

Tlie latest development in the shipping trouble is an ultimatum issued by tho Stewards and Pantrymen’s Association demanding increases in pay rnnging from twenty-two to twenty-seven and a half per cent.; overtime pay for Sundays and holidays, an eight hour day while at sen, and intermediate ports and six hours while in terminal ports. A month’s holiday for the chief steward and a fortnight for all other ranks on full pay.

DARWIN ENQUIRY. FURTHER EVIDENCE. (Received this day at J 2d a.i11.) DARWIN, January 5. Before the ‘commission, Mr Carey was cross-examined at length regarding the allegations that certain officers connected with the Aborigines Protection Department were got rid of in order to prevent the truth coming out regarding the alleged ill-treatment and debasement of aborigines. Carey denied this. Ho also denied the insinuation that, tho only men wanted by Dr Gilruth, the Administrator, were gringers and crawlers, or that Palmerston district Council was abolished because Gilruth could not manipulate it, and another Council with three Government members out of seven substituted. Evidence disclosed that the expenditure in one Government demonstration farm was £31,000, and the revenue therefrom £782. Other farm expenditure was £l,lBO and revenue £9O spread over several years. ■ Solicitor Barrett asserted that Oilruth did not desire agriculture to succeed in the Territory- Tie wanted to decry the White Australia policy, and sell the Territory to a syndicate like the British South Africa Company. Carey admitted the administration never had gone on the demonstration farms who could demonstrate, hut lie denied the ]>olicy was to show that the Terirtory was no good for white men, with a view to selling it to a Meat Company.

FEDERAL ELECTIONS. (Received this day at 10.10 a.rn.) SYDNEY, This Day. Air Gardiner is elected to tlie Senate. Labour has now also hopes of winning a seat, each in Victoria, Westrnlia and Queensland. INFLUENZA OUTBREAK. SYDNEY, Jan. 8. Tho steamer Roggervceii recently from New Caledonia, has been quarantined owing to an outbreak of influenza aboard. A cable from Noumea states one of the steamers patients landed there has developed small-pox and others influenza. Several pf the latter dipd. The victims were coolies.

PRICE OF LINSEED OIL. SYDNEY, This Day. The Necessary Commodities Commission has', increased the price of linseed oil hv £3 per ton, POPULATION OF N.S.AV. (Received this day at 10.15 f.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Government Statistcian an estimates the population of the State as 1,948,389 to the end of September, and as at the average rate of increase the second million mark has now been passed, it means*, there will be a redistribution of .‘Oats in live House of Repre .scutafives ,provided by the constitution, whereby New South Wales will gain one seat at the expense of Victoria.

STOPPING WORK. SYDNEY, This Day. Hoskins has closed all works at Litligow and elsewhere, rendering three thousand idle, and unless the increases of freight: are suspended, it will be impossible to reopen them. THE KTOOMA, SYDNEY, This Day. The troopship Kigoma with New Zealand fioldiers and families, lias arrived en route to New Zealand. STRI KE ENDS . BRISBANE, This Day. The go-slow strike at Townsville, cabled on Bth. Dec., has ended..