AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1920, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

(AUSTBALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

MR MEAGHER’S APPEAL. (Received this day at 8.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr Meagher has announced his in- ' tention of appealing to Parliament for reinstatement as a solicitor. LABOR CABINET’S INTENTIONS. ' . SYDNEY, This Day. The Premier discussing the Government’s future attitude said he realised with only half a mandate, the Government would not be able to go full steam ahead. Therefore, without losing sight of labour’s objectives he would move forward slowly. When, later the Government went to the country it would put forward a definite section of the labour programme and ask for an endorsement. Tfio ‘.Premier proposed to study the social laws of other countries, with a view to adopting them locally.

UNEMPLOYED. 'SYDNEY, This Day. It is estimated there are between six thousand and eight thousand linemployel in Sydney, as a result of the drought and strikes. DAMAGE TO WESTRALA. MELBOURNE, This Day. The examination of the Westralia -showed three plates under No 3 hold bilge have been corrugated. These will be taken off and straightened. PARLIAMENT IN RECESS. MELBOURNE, This Day. Tlie Federal Parliament is going into recess during the Prince of Wales visit.

FORTY HOUR WEEK. (Received this day at 8.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Factory employees are demanding a forty hour working week of five days, without reduction in wages. The Employers Federation statement reiterates the intention to oppose an y reduction in the working hours. THE NOTE ISSUE. MELBOURNE, This Day. Tlie note issue now amounts to fifty seven millions. During next year it will be reduced by twenty millions. The gold reserve at present is twenty four millions.

AUSTRALIAN COAL. (Received.this day at 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Dr Robertson, a mining engineer, giving evidence before the Coal Commission, expressed the opinion that in view of the almost complete loss of oversea markets a further reduction of working hours would be. fatal to the collieries. Owing to the redaction of hours, and the senseless stoppages, Australian collieries would presently be dependent for trade on the requirements of Australasia only. The Federal Government would give the coal owners no encouragement. They supply their warships with coal from New Zealand, of no better quality than our own. The merits of this coal seems to be that it costs four times as much as Australian. In no time has the position of the Australian collieries been more perilous,

NORTHERN TERRITORY REPORT (Received this day at 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day.

Judge Ewing has finished his report on the Northern Territory and it will shortly be presented. It is understood much blame for the trouble of the Territory is placed on the administration from Melbourne during the period boforo the deportation. It is also urged that the machinery of Government in the Territory is too costly and cumbersome, for the amount of work to be done; that the administration could, witli advantage, be made much cheaper. BROKEN HILL SETTLEMENT. MELBOURNE, This Day. Broken Hill companies offer their employees who have been on strike for nearly tweive months, increased wages of 2s daily, improved working conditions. the establishment of a co-opera-tive store to supply necessaries at cost price ,au dreduction of working hours. OIL BORING. MELOURNE, This Day. It is unofficially stated that the Federal Government is placing the whole oil boring operations in Papua in charge of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.

A MOTOR SMASH. (Received this day at 11.30 a.m.) PERTH, This Day. A motor lorry containing a picnic party numbering twenty-one, got out of control twelve miles from Perth and crashed into a tree. A woman and two girls were killed, and all the other occupants injured. Several are in a critical condition. WAGES CONDITIONS. ADELAIDE, April 20. At the Annual Conference of the Chamber of Commerce the Presidental address stated that although wages had been increased from 90 to 100 per cent since 1912, the efficient value of wages had increased less than 5 per cent. The only remedy for this was increased production. The almost universal attempt to limit the hours of wrk afforded the employers an opportunity for strong opposition, which should not he allowed to pass. An employers’ union would he shown more respect than an individual employer. He also urged the removal of the war restrictions.