AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1922, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION LABOUR CONFERENCE. SYDNEY, June 17. 'Flic Labour Conference is being restricted to non-platform motions, as the delegates present are less than the number required by the constitution for alterations t° the platform. A stormy scene was provoked by the allegations of one delegate, that the ballot box in connection with the executive elec tion bad been tampered with. Hie president characterised the charge as ridiculous. The conference will probably terminate to-night.

RESULT OF ELECTIONS. HOBART, June 17. 'l’lie elections to the New Assembly consist of: Nationalists 12 Labour 12 Country 5 Independent 1

SHOOTING OF CATTLE. ADELAIDE. June 17

At the Federal Farmers Conference. Roberts of Queensland Assembly said lie knew a man who ordered two thousand cows to be shot before June, if there was no rain, and two thousand more before August, to avoid taxation. Air Fleming, a member of the House of Representatives testified that the same thing was prevalent throughout Australia. Air Hughes had stumped the Commonwealth, urging greater production, and that was the reward for. it.

REPAYMENT OF LOANS. SYDNEY, June 17. During the next three years, the Stato Government will be obliged to repay or renew loans aggregating sixty millions which factor will restrict loan expenditure. A ROUGH TRIP. The Laui',a encountered hardly a day’s fair weather in the sixteen days trip. She sailed from Awnnui on 31st May, with a full cargo of pine, and ran into the Wiltshire gale. After a troublesome period she encountered another gale off T/ird Howe Island, finally meeting a hurricane off the coast at the end of the journey. The Laura will loa ( | a cargo of polos at Port Stephens for Bluff.

COST OF SHIPS

SYDNEY, June 17

The statement made that the cost of running thy Commonwealth ships under the Australian articles is considerably greater than for similar vessels under British articles. The Largs Bay under the former cost £2.088 sterling per moil th against £l.4t>o under British. In addition the initial cost of the vessels exceeded the estimates by twentyfive per out, from a million each, to 1250 thousand, thus involving additional depreciation, interest and insurance. LABOUR. SUPPORT. The Labour Council has issued a manifesto extending greetings to the Workers of India, stating New South Wales workers support Indians demand foi Home rule, adding that the chains of India’s economic political subjection will he broken only by the combined might of the organised workers. A delegate to the Labour Conference gave notice of motion that the. proposed action of the Commonwealth to invite M. Sastri to address the Federal Parliament is unconstitutional and meets with the entire disapproval of the Conlcrence. REDUCED WAGES. BRISBANE, June 17. The Arbitration Court reduced the wages of station hands on cattle stations by ten shillings per week, jacke-,-oos bv seven shillings. The Judge stated that last December lie reduced wages by seven shillings, based on a minimum of three pounds and keep. Since thcii the cattle industry lias gone from had to worse.

IMMIGRATION

SYDNEY, Juno 18

At the Commercial Travellers’ Association’s annual dinner, Major Belchei (head of tho British Empire Exhibition Mission) stressed as Australia’s urgent need, more immigration, but said immigration must march hand in hand with development of markets for the goods the immigrants will produce. Mr Crnyhnm (ox-Rresidont of the Association) referring to the re-opening of Australian markets to German goods urged the mooting to regard the. date of this reopening in light of tho fourth of August 1914. He said:—“lf we deal with Germany, let it ho only under compulsion.” Air Simpson (British Trade Commissioner! declared himself sceptical about the ability of tho Germans to undercut British or Australian goods on their markets. ITe had experience on the resumption of English trade with Germany of a repudiation of contracts by German firms, who li%d quoted ridiculously low rates. Their cxcuso was their inability to obtain export licenses but this latter proved to be untrue. ITe thought the legislation passed by the. Federal Government would stop undercutting. He asked tile meeting to wait till tho first- of August. Then he thought it would bo found that in tlie main, German goods would not be found to be competitive with British goods. BRISBANE, June 17. The amount involved in the Mount Morgan case, cabled on the ]6tli is £142,000 not £14,000.