AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1920, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

(PER CHESS ASSOCIATION.—OOPYBIOHX.j

CANCELLING CONCERTS. , (Received this day at 12.25 p.m) SYDNEY, Sept. 15. A cable from London with reference to the professional singer, McCormack, is the sequel to his cancelling the contract at Adelaide which was fixed for last Saturday night. After his previous concert the audi once sung the National Anthem. McCormack declared that this was a studied affront and an insinuation. He refused to have the 'Anthem sung at or played at his concerts. He explained that the anthem was never performed at rocitals, except when Vice-Royal-ties were present. He added that various members of the community have been violently antagonistic to him on account of his American citizenship, and ! they were determined to make his stay in Adelaide miserable. They were not inspired with patriotic feeling. He was ns proud to he an American citizen as he was proud to have been born in Ireland. During McCormack’s Sydney season prior to visiting Adelaide, considerable feeling was shown over the absence of the Anthem at some concerts. . WANTS TO SING IN LONDON. ! (Receiyed This Day at 1.5. p.m.) J LONDON, September 14. ( Newspapers publish a cable from John McCormack, the singer saying fie wants to sing in London, because he knows British audiences will receive him on his merits as an artist,'for art knows no nationality, and does not shout him down because he happens to he an American citizen. . ,

FEDERAL POLITICS. MELBOURNE, Sept. 15. In the House of Representatives Mr Cook announced the loan was over-sub-scribed by £26,000, and money was still coming in. Mr Hughes moved the second reading of the New Guinea Bill, providing for the acceptance of a mandate and establishment .of civil administration to replace military control, whkli has been operative since 1914. The 'lebate was adjourned.

A RAILWAY CHIEF

MELBOURNE, Sept. 15

Mr H. M. Clapp, the newly appointed Chairman of the Victorian Railway Commission at £5,000 per annum, has arrived from America, where he relinquished the post of Vice-President of St Louis railway company. He was

horn in Melbourne and commenced lifo as an engineering apprentice at South Melbourne.