GENERAL CABLES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1920, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

I AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION j

UNION SMASHING. LONDON, Dec. 20

The “Daily Chronicle” states:—The Government proposes that “the building trade unions should have to accept as members at least fifty thousand ex-ser-vice men. The Government proposes agreeing to allow the unions a grant for every such man taken with a guarantee against unemployment and liberal allowance for time lost and for bad weather. CLOSING DOWN. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. It is officially announced that Broken Hill smelting plant at Port Pirio will be closed on tho 24th till 17th January unless metal prices recover considerably. A resumption of operations afterwards is exceedingly doubtful. Normally 2300 are employed, but recently owing to the Broken Hill strike, it was reduced to 750. The directors’ reasons for the probable closing are the demoralised metal markets, advanced prices of supplies, higher wages and shorter working hours.

METAL POSITION. BRISBANE, This Day. The General Manager of Mount Morgan reviewing the metal position said the Company was now producing copper at a loss. The position was extremely critical and any further burden upon the industry would bring disaster. Unless the employees were content to work at present rates they would close the mine against themselves.

ANTIQUITY FINDS. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) . LONDON, December 19. Palestine department of antiquities is zealously investigating and safeguarding sacred monuments and recently made a notable discovery of the remains of two early Christian churches in the Garden of Gethsemane, one dating from the thirteenth century, and beneath this' the remains of probably the oldest ehuijeh in Palestine dating back to the fourth century. Portion of the walls, columns apses, and original mosaic floor are intact. Franciscans have been entrusted with the erection of a new ehurch on the site, in order to preserve the remains whiafc reach the rocks associated with the agony of Christ. Another discovery’ recorded is a giants footprint a yard long, embedded in sandstone at Ascalon.

BANK FAILS. j LONDON, December 20. Farrows Bank lias suspended payment. The failure is regarded as unimportant from a financial viewpoint, but is likely to cause considerable hardships. It is known as the peoples’ bank and has seventy three branches. The customers are mostly small shopkeepers and clerks. The Bo«|i'd {bf| Trade states the failure is due to losses in trading over a series of years. GERMAN OWNERSHIP. NEW YORK, Dec. 18. Edward Burnley was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on a charge of concealing the Germa'n ownership of the “Evening Mail” newspaper. MEAGHER BILL. (Received This Day at 10 40 a.m.) : SYDNEY, This ,Day.

The G. G. Meagher Bill passed all its stages in the Legislative Council by 24 to 19. COST OF PROHIBITION. SYDNEY, This Day. Mr Riddell speaking in the Council, drew attention to the cost of prohibition, which lie' stated would involve eight millions and meant throwing 25 thousand portions out of employment. Mr Hammond rebutting tlie argument of expense, suggests if the Compensation Board estimated the cost at twelve to fourteen millions it would not be unreasonable to pay ten year bonds. In tli© meantime 85 millions would be diverted from drink to other trading channels. The official estimate of the Government Statistician states that for the year ended June 30th the sum of 10 milions was spent in intoxicating liquor, three millions more than the previous year and 23/3 per capita greater than the previous year, when the drink bill was £5 2s sd. LTQUOR CONSUMPTION. SYDNEY, Dec. 21. The Statistiean attributes the increased consumption of liquor to returned soldiers and the general increase of wages. He comments that with each increase in price of liquor, has come increased consumption of beer and wine and a decrease in spirit drinking.