AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1920, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

, [AUSTHAUAN <fc N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) SYDNEY MAYORALTY: SYDNEY, Dee. 9. * Unwonted interest was taken in the election of Lord Mayor of , Sydney. This was owing to the fact that it was I' the first time in the city’s history that the selection was dominated by an outside body, namely, the Australian LabI our Party, as Labour holds the balance I of power in the Council. The Labour ! Party issued a mandate that the selection must be letf in its hands. Six out of thirteen Labour Aldermen objected ; to any interference, but strong measures were taken to crush any revolt. ' After a heated meeting, they, by seven ■ to six, voted in favour of the party’s j overlordship. An hour before the City ; Council met to choose a Lord Mayor, i the Australian Labour Party Executive ! met and selected its candidate; Aldi'ii man Lambert. The malcontents then ■ fell into line.

Wlien the Council took' a poll,'Alderman Lambert was chosen Liord Mayor by 14 votes to 12. Alderman Meagher supported Labour. Otherwise it was purely a party vote. CYCLONE AT SYDNEY. SYDNEY, Dec. •9. There is a cyclone storm here, wind is blowing at sixty miles an hour, and there is torrential rain. The December average rainfall has already been doubled. All the harbour ferry traffic beyond middlo head has been stopped. All the coastal vessels are sheltering.

POLITICAL. (Received This Day at 10.35 aim.) SYDNEY, December 10

The Legislative Council read a second time the Increase of Salaries Bill by 28 to 10. The third reading was carried on the voices, without, amendment.

| In -the Assembly, Mi' Cann in j introducing the 44 Hour Bill said eighty industries were already working , 44 hours. Ho urged employers and employees, where practicable to mutually arrange to work a little longer each day and absolve Saturday work. The second rending was carried on the voices.

• UNEMPLOYMENT. MELBOURNE, December 10. • Unemployment is rife in many industries, notably boot, tanning, confectionery, rubber and some branches of wool and clothing. It is stated to be the worst for twenty' years. A DENIAL. ! MELBOURNE, December 10. Mr Cook denied a cable, stating the Commonwealth were contemplating a ten million loan. ’ REFUSED. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) SYDNEY’, December 10 | The Amateur Boxing Committee refused permission to Harold Hardwick to he reinstated as an amateur. COMMERCIAL. MELBOURNE, December 10. At .the hides sales, competition was keen and animated, values being unaltered from last week. Barley was quiet. English 4/7, Cape 3/9; Oats 2/3 to 2/4; Potatoes £6 to £io; Onions £9 to £lO. At the wool sales there was a revised- selection of good wools. Competition for best wool was wider-than of late,, and withdrawals less frequent. . FLOOD DAMAGE. SYDNEY, j December 10, The gale with torrential rain blew . throughout the night and continues unabated. Some lowlying suburbs are flooded. Country reports state the rivers are rising. There is considerable lloding of the suburbs of Newcastle, which are under water, and numbers ofi families arte marooned. There is widespread damage to fruit crops. The full extent of the damage done -to wheat cannot be estimated. In some districts it is very serious. .Floods are also experienced in the south coast dis- , trict.