AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1920, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

;AUMSAUiM it N.Z. cable association j SYDNEY’ PROPOSALS. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 20. j Government builds the city railway first, and North Shore Budge follows. PAPUAN NATIVES. MELBOURNE, Dec 30. The Resident Magistrate of the Eastern Division at Papua made a special investigation of the north-east coast districts, with a view to determining the cause of the decrease in the native po-

pulation. He reports tile outstanding features are large, and the number of childless marriages and scarcity of marriagable girls, compared with the men of the same class, There are not nearly enough marriagable girls to go round, but amongst the growing children the sexes are better balanced and the future looks more/ promising. Ho adds that girl life is at a discount, as. it meant that tribes with a supply of girls meant trouble from' raids. They therefore specialised in boys who develop into, warriors. There are not signs of decadence among Papuans and it is hard to account for the childless marriages, and no apparent reason why they be so numerous. ‘ ? STEWARDS STRIKE. (Received This Day at 10.35 n.niA SYDNEY, December 20. . The. prospects of a settlement of the stewards s'trike are more slender. Mor e steamers have been thrown idle and trade along the coast is becoming paralysed. Some Union officials are of opinion that the Steamship Owners Federation will seize the opportunity for a trial of strength with certain maritime unions, which have been liarrassing them for months past. A WARNING. MELBOURNE, December 20. Mr Higgins lias issued a warning that the Arbitration Court will not hesitate to withdraw" protection from Unions which take all an award gives, and strikes / for the rest. BYE- ELECTION. PERTH, December 20. At Kalgoorlie bye-election Foley lias

6,788 votes and Mahon 6,268. About four thousands have yet to be counted.