AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1921, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

\UHTHALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. A BIG DEFIC IT. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 28. It is understood that Mr Lang's estimates disclose a deficit ill the vicinity of two millions. It is suggested the |, .jeer should he squared hy increasing the mx on higher incomes. ATTACKED BY SHARK. BRISBANE.. Nov. 28 A ‘lather, with a small child oil his hack, was fishing in Brisbane river near Xewl'anil, when he was attacked hv a shark in lour feet oi water, lhe slunk was eventually beaten off, Imt the hoy was lost. It is unknown whether he was drowned or taken by the slunk. PLAGUE DANGER. BRISBANE. Nov. 28 McCormack. Home Secretary, stated owing to the serious nature of the phene situation, drastic changes weie coiiTemplated in the efforts to eradicate the disease.

IMPORTANT OOPYKTOHT decision. (Received. This Day at 9.10 a.m.l SYDNEY, November ‘2B. .Justice Harvey gave an important judgment in the ease of Albert, a music publisher, against l-affming Coy. lor alleged breach of copyright. Phiintdl claimed ownership of the Poptfnght in Uisiralia and New Zoaland of the song “My Own lona.” Tt w«w alleged defendants imported and sold gramophone records of the song, m coil til’ii vent-ion of plaintitv’s right to make „i- import such records, and asked that an order restraining tlie defendants from infringing the copyright

importing records into A natro n, without his consent. Defendants did not clonv the importation or sale of the records, which were made under the British Copyright- Act and acquired bv them in the ordinary course „f trade,' and that the British Act justified their action, as far as records

were concerned. Justice Karcev ruled that despite the provisions of the British Act, the importation or making here for sale ol , these records in Australasia, would he ( an infringement of the copyright unless notice had been given plaint ill and royalties were paid him. He held that gramophone records were daily copies within the meaning of the Copyright Act. In the ease of double-sided re cords if inseparable lie ordered them (~ lje handed over to plaintiff within three weeks, plaint iff to obliterate the record on the reverse side. Tlie operation of the Judge’s decree was suspended for three weeks. The case is the first of the kind where ! the lcgalitv of copyright as afleetmg i the' importation of phonograph and j other mechanical records from Cmted Kingdom into a self-governing dom.n- ---| foil had been raised