AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION,

SHIPPING REGULATIONS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY,. February 20. New. reguations- are'issued relieving vessels arriving direct from New Zealand, from anchoring in Watson Bay for medical inspection permitting them to come direct t 0 the wharf. CLERICAL APPOINTMENT. SYDNEY, February 20. Archbishop Kelly lias received a, cable from Cardinal Casparri announcing that Doctor Michael Sheehan, Professor of Classic® at Maymouth College lias been appointed co-adjnstor, Archbishop of Sydney.

TWO MORE PLAGUE CASES

(Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 20,

Two additional cases of plague have been discovered. One is a man working in the infected area in the city. Another is in a produce store in the Eastern suburbs.

13,000 UNEMPLOYED. SYDNEY, Feb. 20,

Tlio Director of the Labour Exchange announces that there were 13,00 q unemployed iii Sydney at the end of January.

LABOUR RESOLUTION. SYDNEY, Feb. 20.

The Executive of the Railway Union passed a resolution of disappointment and indignation at the strike report, and calls on the Government to reinstate the men and restore their seniority.

RAILWAY GUAGE. MELBOURNE, Feb. 20

Hon W. M. Hughes, criticising the Victorian attitude against a uniform railway gunge, (cabled on 15th) says the report stood condemned for its failure to reflect the true Australian spirit. A majority of Australians would say proceed with tlio work at once. A BELATED REPORT. 'Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 20. . After an inquiry extending from October 1920, Justice Edmunds, the Royal Commissioner, has issued a report on the railway strike of 1917. Ho finds that the Commissioners of railways in issuing the seniority regulation, exceeded the terms of the settlement reached after the strike, that several of their acts in regard to employment of loyalists and volunteers were'a violation of the terms of settlement. Edmunds declares that the charge of conspiracy between the Commissioners and the then Government to ignore the settlement, was without foundation, lie recommends ihat exstrikers should he deemed ineligible for re-employment, only on the grounds of taking a prominent part in a strike, committing during the strike overt acts of sabotage, intimidation, offensive language or conduct to railway employees, or for the avowed adoption of militant unionism. As a rule of conduct in the service he makes numerous recommendations regarding the grading of loyalists, volunteers and reengaged strikers, sustaining recognition of the two former classes, and that the strikers now eligible or becoming eligible for re-employment, he given preference for any vacancy. Other recommendations include that the Commissioner should refrain from interference with tlio decisions of the Appeal Board; that the Railway Act be amended to embody the decisions of the Commission and that a Board be appointed to ensure such decisions being carried out; and that jurisdiction be given to the Arbitration Court to hear applications for redress of grievances, by acts or commissions on the part of the Commissioners. The report says that although the Railway Act makes the Commissioners independent of interference by any outside authorities, ministers, political or otherwise, the evidence disclosed attempts to exercise such illegal outside pressure, which the Commissioners firmly withstood, in some instances, but in others they submitted to it.