AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1922, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.K. CABLE ASSOCIATION. WORKERS’ PARADISE. " AMERICAN IDEA OF AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, May 24. An interestin'' contrast oi industrial and social life of Australia with that of j older countries has just been made in j Melbourne by Dr Sydney Strong, or Seattle, U.S.A. The Commonwealth, he said, with its universal franchise, its old-age pension, its baby bonus, its high wages, its State factory legislation, and its nationalisation of public utilities, has been called the workers’ paradise. Living conditions here were certainly much better than in England or America. Industrially speaking, Australia bad gone a long way further along the path of progress than either oi these countries. Those thoughts had been brought to bis mind by the celebration of Eight Hours’ Day. The Labour movement bad accomplished much m Australia for tbo worker. But outside organisations bad greatly assisted it, notably the Anti-Sweating league, which had been the means of getting the Victorian Factory Act placed upon the Statute Book-. Because of the worldwide economic conditions, Australia, like other countries, was facing an industrial crisis. lli‘ would give them Ins word of "advice: “Hold oil to wlmt you have.” Let employer and employee cooperate so that there would be no lowering of the standard of living. WIN FOR WOMEN. SYDNEY, June 1. For the first time in the history of Australia, a woman—Aliss Muriel Henderson.—lias boon appointed private secretory at the Government House. LABOUR, CONFERENCE. SYDNEY, Julie 4. The annual conference to the Australian I.alxnir Party has opened. Tne President. Mr Powers, in an .address, referring to former internal quarrels, said the hitter feelings had subsided, and the Labour Party was now a harmonious body, all disruptive elements. having been got rid of. He claimed that everything the workers wanted was contained in their old objective aside. A _l)ig majority of delegates he said, wont gagged to the Brisbane conference, whose objective was an abstract proposition which none knew the real meaning of. Air Powers declared that the recent Now South Wales elections were won through harharious sectarianism, and as the result of an unscrupulous electioneering <lodge by the anti-Labour politicians and the Press. The Labour I’arty. lie said, know no religion, but Labour had now learned where their political enemy hit hardest mid would know where to fight in future.

A motion plot sting against the executive’s endeavour to curtail the women's representation at the conference, and declaring for women equal rights witb men was defeated.

GERA!AN GOODS. SYDNEY. Juno 2

The President of the Chamber of Com merce has brought under the notice of the Tillin' Board the fact that German goods have already "reached Sydney, a consignment having boon landed in Alolbourno some lime ago. The goods evaded the Customs officers and some I’i-e purchased by a Sydney firm. Ihe Customs Department at Sydney heard of the transaction find the goods were bold up for n month before the firm was allowed to dispose of them.

STATE ORCHESTRA. SYDNEY. June 2

Tu the course of a letter to Sir Arthur Rickard, chairman of the trustees of the Slate Orchestra. Al. Yerhrugglion stales flint lie will not give ipHlie wider field in America unless some real understanding is arrived nt. He will not allow sentiment to override coininonsen.se. TTe gives the terms on which he will remain in charce of the State orchestra-, namely a salary as conductor, at the rate of L 1509 a year and the position ol director f ,f tiie State C’oiisorvatoriiim. to he made poimanent. at a salary of £ls<>o a year on the understanding that should the orchestra cease to exist his salary as director would automatically rise to £-000. ,

WOOL TOl’S’ CASE. SYDNEY, June 3

The "Wool Tops” case (as cabled on ~iay'2l) is dragging along. Much technical evidence is being silted by a great army of legal talent on each side, and the case will provide a lengr tliv and expensive forensic battle. The case is one in which the Commonwealth and the Central Wool Committee are proceeding against the Colonial Spinning and. AYeaviiig Company Ltd. The plaintiffs’ claims is for 111011ev allegedly due by the defendant company as license fees for allowing tho company to sell wool-tops to foreign countries. Two hundred and fifty thousand is claimed as damages lor breach of agreement, and for £282,000 paid by plaintiffs, conditional upon such release. A cross action is indicated involving about £1,000,000, in. which the defendant company alleges the Commonwealth Government to he guiltty of breaches of agreement in refusing to consent to any further sales of wooltops exceid on comlitoins which give tho Government a greater share of profits from the company’s operations than the company gets itself.