AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1921, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. N.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY, Dee. 16. Representatives of the National and Progressive parties were in conference throughout Friday and meet again to diny. The Coalition prospects are brightening. The problem of the Speakership is temporarily obscured pending the Coalition solution. HELD UP. SYDNEY, Dec. 16. The steamer Mataran which was to sail today for Rnbaul, has been laid up indefinitely, owing to the demand of the firemen for three extra trimmers. The Company replied that there are more men in the stokehold than is required by the Navigation Act. It would choose drastic- action rather than tolerate job control. PACIFIC CARLES. SYDNEY, Dec. 16. It is stated the Pacific Cable Board’s now scheme of duplication proposes to lin Icop Fanning Island with Honolulu, in lieu of the Fanning Island-Camfield cable. It is also intended to construct a. now cable from, Auckland to Suva which will eliminate Norfolk Island. VALUE OF PRODUCTS. SYDNEY, Dee. 17. Nlr McGregor. British Trade Commissioner. has compiled figures showing that whilst the value of production in the Commonwealth has grown during the past seven years, the volume has seriously declined. The value in 1913 of the various industries was £218.103.900 in 1910 £ 348 183.000. The latter figures are. reduced to £178.225.000 when assessed on the 1913 level of prices. EX-ENEMY SHIPS. MELBOURNE, Dee 17. Justice Cnssen has made an order that twenty-eight seiz'd ex-enemy vessels are 'good lawful prizes. The total value of the vessels in the possession cf the Commonwealth Government is £1,325,000. CD A LITTON ARRANGED. . SYDNEY. Dec 18. Sir John Fuller announced that a coalition has tx-on arranged between the National and Progressive Parties, and the two parties will go to the elections as soon as practicable under a definite and complete understanding. SHIPPING HOLD-UP. SYDNEY. Dec 18. The trouble over the stokehold mannings of tho steamer Mntaram extended to the Makamho. which was due to sail yesterday for the New Hebrides. After the' medical examination in Watson’s Bay. tho skipper signalled that the firemen refused to sad. Phis action was a surprise to the company’s officials who had no idea there- was trouble or. the vessel. Grave ferns are expressed that it will not he long before all steamers in the Island service will lie declared black.

ANOTHER RAT CAUGHT. SYDNEY, December 18. Another plague infected rat has been discovered in tilt* first infected aiea. LULL IN QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE. December 18. There has been a lull in the plague epidemic neither eases nor deaths having been recorded in the pasft few days. The percentage of the plngue-mfeet-rd among the rats examined remains at seven percent in 1902.