AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1920, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z, CABLE ASSOCIATION. TRANSPORT worker. SYDNEY, Dec. 29. The recommendation of the Transport Workers’ Federation was rejected by a mass meeting of stewards, who stated that there were only two avenues open for reconciliation, namely, a conference with the shipowners or the appointment of a special tribunal. The coastal owners are meeting the strikers’ representatives on Tuesday, but inter-State owners arc maintaining an attitude of no compromise, and are insisting oh the men resuming work unconditionally before the conference can be held. CHARGE OF-MURDER. SIDNEY, Dec. 29. Mrs Mort has been charged with the murder of Doctor Toner. HIGH COMMISSIONER. MELB'OtiRNE, Dec. 29. It is rumoured that the lit Hon Mr Joseph Cook may lie appointed High Commissioner for Australia. . house Building.

SYDNEY*, Dec. 29. During 1920 nearly 9,000 houses were erected in the metropolis at a cost of L'5,000,000 as against 5830 for £4,788,000 in 1919. THE WOOL TRADE. SYDNEY, Dec. 29. , The Central Wool Committee announced that no further appraisements are to he made by tile Commonwealth. I Wool and sheepskins limy now he ex-

ported without particulars as to whei sheared and so on. PRODUCTION IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, Dec. 29 During 1919-20 there was an appreciable increase in Victoria’s productive activity, except in mining. The total value of primary and manufactured products was nearly ninety millions, an increase of fifteen millions on the previous year SYDNEY, Dee. 29. Only stewards on Australian articles left the Moeraki. A dozen on New Zealand articles are expected to standby. The Union Company announces that the Mooraki will sail for Wellington to-morrow, and nil effort will also be made to despatch the Manuka and the Mnheno ns portions (if their crews are-on New Zealand articles. As the crews of the various vessels are paid off, the ships are to be tied up in tiie stream. An enormous amount of tonnage is already idle at Sydney and Newcastle. In Melbourne it is estimated that 40,000 tons are idle. LABC(R C()NFERENcte. SYDNEt, Dec. 20. The Labour Party’s agenda for the Easter Conference contains a motion seeking expulsion from the movement of any member accepting a title from the British Government; also seeking the abolition of the wage system and the substitution of universal service to the State, in which all giving four hours’ service, shall have the necessities of life delivered to their homes,

One league advocates a co-operative Commonwealth find suggests that the New South Wales Government should commence by hacking the co-operative stores in all municipalities. *. A number of branches are seeking readmission for members expelled over conscription, while the Bathurst branch proposes that no man should he allows.! to accumulate more than £IO,OOO. SATISFACTORY VACCINE. (Received This Day at 10 40 a.in.) SYDNEY, December 30. ■ The trustees of the McGarvie Smith Institute, which a year ago supplied the South African MinJ’sfer of Agriculture. with McGarvie Smith anthrax, have received a communication from Africa stating the vaccine was subjected to the most severe tests possible and proved successful. Argentine lias just completed tests on a smaller scale and has cabled extreme satisfaction. CONFERENCE FAILS. SYDNEY, December 30. A compulsory coal conference convened to deal with the dispute in the cool and coke industry, has adjourned wihout reaching a decision mainly owing to the absence of representatives of the Victorian Government which disputes the right of the Commonwealth to legislate for the conduct of state industries. INTERVENTION ASKED FOR.

(Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 30. Thp Transport Workers Federation arc asking Mr Hughes to intervene in the stewards strike by appointing a tribunal lijndbr the Industrial Ponco Act,