AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1922, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

ADSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASBOOIATION. N.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY, April 24. As the upshot of an exchange of compliments between Mr McGirr and Mr Catts, the former challenged the latter both to resign and contest the latter’s constituency in the House of Representatives so as to test the attitude of the electors towards Catt’s hew majority Labour party. Mr Catts replied ho would welcome Mr McGirr as an opponent when the Federal elections arrive, hut he declined at present to he side-tracked from the work of organising the new Party. CANBERRA STRIKE. SYDNEY, April 24. Additional returned soldiers arrived at Canberra from Melbourne, but declined to start work when acquainted with the conditions of the strike. Senator Thomas addressed a meeting at Canberra and said though lie deplored strikes, he would have struck if he had been, one of the workers at Canberra. A message received from Melbourne states Ministers are resolute in their determination not to concede the demands. They reiterated the promise of the Board to determine wages and hours, which would he appointed as soon as the men elected a representative.

STEEL TR ADE

SYDNEY, April 21

Justice Higgins referring to the cessation of activities of steel works said it was not the high cost of labour that was responsible, but the collapse of the market dumping of steel from abroad and excessive cost of coal. The company did well during the war when no ships were available to carry steel from America, when steel was £3O. Business had to stop now, rails being handed in Australia duty paid at £9 to £lO per ton.

CHESS. MELBOURNE, April 24

Davies (N.Z.) playing a vigorous game agaoinst Joniz (N.S.W.) in the chess tournament, forced the latter to resign. Davies is bracketed with four others, running second, with 41 wins. Watson (Victoria) ’ leading with six.

LITHGOW IRON WORKS

SYDNEY, April 25

Giving evidence before the Industrial Court, Hoskings, of the Litligow Iron and .Steel Works, spoke in support ot the works’ application for a reduction in their employees’ wages by 3s weekly. He said that during the last six months, the orders for steel amounted to only 3,116 tons, and the capacity of the mills for that period was 26,000 tons. He added there wore now only 213 men employed at the works, 643 men being put off since last year. He concluded -“To enable the works to carry on at a profit, it would be necessary to reduce the wages by 20s weekly, which should he done gradually.

ROSS EXECUTED. MELBOURNE, April 25 Collin Ross was yesterday executed for the murder of the girl TiiTsehke. Death was instantaneous. He protested innocence till the last.

N.S.W. RUGBY MATCHES. SYDNEY, April 24

The New South Wales Rugby Union has decided that the Now Zealand Maori team will play its first match here on uno 24th. The first match of the All Black team will he on July 24.

HOMES FOR EX-SOLDIERS. MELBOURNE, April 24. An agreement has been concluded between the Commonwealth and Westralian Governments, under which the latter agrees to build war service homes. This is the first of what, it is hoped, may he a chain of arrangements with all States with Die object of securing economy in Die erection of homes.

PASSPORTS. . SYDNEY. April 25. Under an agreement between the French and Australian Governments, the holders of Australian passports do not need to have their passports vised when travelling through France. This will now apply to Die French colonies. A LIBEL SUIT. SYDNEY, April 25.

A libel action has commenced at Bathurst in which Mr Michael Meagher sues the directors and editor of the paper ‘‘National Advocate,” for £200,000 for publishing a five-column article accusing him of having unfairly designed to secure a majority of the shares in the paper, for the purpose of depriving fellow shareholdcis of then just rights. The article further declared Mr Meagher was piqued liecause the late Mr Storey (Premier) overlooked him when appointing Mi Percival as Manager of the Legislative Council. The caso stands partly heard. 1 AT!OCR DEPUTY LEADERSHIP. SYDNEY, April 25. yi r Dunn has been elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party of New South Wales. PARLIAMENT OPENS TO-DAY. SYDNEY, April 25. The New South Wales Parliament opens on Wednesday. A crisis, which was vaerted in the Coalition, has been averted by the appointment of Mr Wearno (Progressive) as DeputyLeader, without the right of reversion to the Premiership or the Acting-Pre-miership. Mr Levy (ex-Speaker) has been selected by the Coalition for nomination to the Speakership. CHESS. MELBOURNE, April 25. Ingledew, of Tasmania, has defeated Davies, of Now Zealand, in the eighth round of the chess tournament,