VARIOUS CABLED ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1921, Page 3

VARIOUS CABLED ITEMS

AUSTRALIAN.

lUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

COST OF NEWSPAPERS

MELBOURNE, June 17

In tli© House of Representatives, Mr Hammond pointed out that the two Melbourne morning papers recently increased their price by one halfpenny, although the cost of news print bad dropped. He asked the Treasurer to consider the diverting of these excessive charges to a useful public purpose by imposing a tax of half a penny per copy on twopenny daily papers, and thereby provide funds to enable the seat of Government to be transferred to Canberra within three years. Mr Cook gave an evasive reply. UNEMPLOYED. MELBOURNE, June 17 Mr Cook stated he had promised to contribute £5,000 to New South Wales to relieve distressed immigrants if New South Wales Government did likewise. The latter refused on the grounds that they were confronted with “Their own unemployment ’problem. The incident is regarded likely to damage the immigration campaign in England. STRIKE OF SHEARERS. SYDNEY, Juno 17. In the shearing industry there is a dispute. The New South Wales workers are asking for the same wages and Conditions as in Queensland. The prospect of a refusal threatens serious trouble. Mr Lambeth (Secretary of tho Australian Workers’ Union), has issued an ultimatum that unless the pastoralisls grant the Union’s demand consisting of the application of the Queensland Shearers’ Award to New South Wales, 30,000 sheares will Immediately go on strike. Mr Lambeth states that at a compulsory conference ordered on June 9th the pastoralists refused to consider any agreement for regulating wages and conditions for the coming season. The Queensland award provides £2 per 100 for shearers, and £4 10s per week for shed hands, and a 14-hour week;

submarine EARTHQUAKE. SYDNEY, June i 7. The Eastern Extensin Cables are seriously Interrupted. Its Sydney office states the trouble probably is due to a. submarine earthquake in the Red Sea. CAUSE OF QUAKE. SYDNEY, June 17. The suburbs of Sydney were again severely shaken by earth tremors today. ’

s 's For the first time the explosions wereXtecorded on the seismograph at Stj. Tgnatius River view Observatory. Three very marked shocks were there registered., Doctor Pigot S. J. head o r the observatory, states the shocks are undoubtedly due to the explosions of gunciottton at Holdsworthy internment camp.

A RUM WAGER. BRISBANE, May 29. Constable Newman saw a man stagger out of an hotel last night and walk on to the footpath and roll over. Constable Newman went over and found the man unconscious, and took him to tlie hospital. When bo had* recovered ho .said it was for a wager that lie bad drunk a pint of rum. The act nearly cost him bis life.