AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1922, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION,

N-S-AV. GOVERNMENT BIGG. SYDNEY, July 12

The New Scuili Wales Cabinet has put the finishing touches to its Bill for abolishing the forty-four hours’ week. This mensnie will be introduced on the conclusion of the present censure debate. There will bo universal sweeping away of the forty four hours’ week, but the Bill makes it impossible, to fix forty-four hours as the minimum in the industries under State control. The Bill permits the employers and employees to come to an agreement to work a forty-four hours’ week. commonwealth ships dispute ended; MELBOURNE, July 12. The management have received letters from the maritime unions guaraniteeing a discontinuance of the job eon•tiol policy on the Federal ships. The management of Commonwealth iliiio announced it is recommissioning the Barg’s Bay, but states that should there be any recurrence of job control, it will lay up the whole fleet. WAR SERVICE. SYDNEY. July 12. An analysis of the •Australian Expeditionary force mortality while the men were absent from Australia, shows that the death rate was approximately seven and three quarters per cent per annum. On the other hand under norma] Australian conditions, the rates of mortality of a body of men of similar ages would he approximately only one-half per cent per annum. RAILWAY SYSTEMS. .SYDNEY, July 13. The Federail State Government is considering an important modification of the railway gauge unification scheme whereby it is claimed the mileage will be reduced bv some hundreds of miles am] be independent of Victorian and South Australian co-operation. whirl] docs not favour the existing proposals. Also that it, would assist in developing national land undertakings, and completing importnl hung up railways. It would Ik* more advantageous from a strategic standpoint and would greatly reduce tile initial cost of the wo. k in altering the gauges. The scheme it to link up the trans-Continental railway troiii Port Augusta with the New South Wales system. One of three sl,ggi*sti':l routes is largely across instead as tile previously proposed converting of coastal line*.

COM) WKATIIICR. SYDNEY. July 1)!. fviandia registered four degrees on Wednesday, tin* coldest this winter WEATHER REPORTS. SYDNEY, July Id. I lie Primier communicated wiili Mr Hughes in connection, wit 1 1 a discontinuance <:| the Weather n ports. Protests were also made by many sections of the community. POUTK AG.

MELBOURNE, July |d. In the Represi nlativos. Mr l’vric ptemised t*i make enquiries regarding the disciiiitiiiiiniice of weather reports .Mr Sciillin (l.ahour) moved an aiiieudmont, to the Addriss-in-Reply that the House was opposed to elosiim (Jeelono Woollen Mills.

.Mr Greene indicating tin* policy of Government respecting primary industries, said during the past tin years the yield including fruit, dairv and produce ineiva-cd by £00,817.000 sterling of 225 per cent. The Minister ignored a thrust from a country member asking for tig* increasi d cost of product ion. censure debate. SYDNEY, July 13. In the Assembly the (’ensure Debate was uninteresting. A division is expected to-nigbt. A Government victory is considered certain. SYDNEY. July 13. I he Graziers’ Association reports that eight ecu sliids have already started shearing under the nward rales. Plenty ol labour is offering and no serious trouble is anticipated. NEW HEBRIDES AFFAIRS. SYDNEY, July Id. faster Slew-art. an Adventist mis-sioit-iry from Np\y Nobridps roprat.s the: charges ol failure of the Condimiirttm Government. Affairs are in a state of < hno.«, and rapidly drifting from bail to worse, lie asserts that tin* illicit sale of firearms and liquor flourishes and apart from the cruel practices inlanticide, parricide and murder wherein tin* beat ben natives indulge in the *■.■lll' of girls to become wives of their put liases is still widely practised. Tint jiitc of a girl aged six to twelve ranges Iron) ten to thirty pigs.

WHITE AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, Jii 1 v 13.

Air Harwell, the South Australian Premier, who lias returned from England, in an interview denied the statements attributed to him. lie said the

American press bad misrepresented him in regard to tin* introduction of black labour into Australia. He declared that apparently if American journalists could not get news, they ((instructed it. His attitude toward tropical labour was really that something should he done to develop Australia’s waste territory. If possible, it could be done by white labour. No one would be better pleased that In* would if white labour would suffice, but the question must, in any ease, be tackled, and a sane solution readied. FEDERAL POLITICS. -MELBOURNE, July 13. In the Federal House of Representatives. Air Sciillin, the Labour member, moved an amendment to the Ail-tlress-in-Roply, to the effect that the House opposed the Government’s action re-dosing Geelong Woollen .Mills. Hon Air Alassey-Greeue replied and claimed to vindicate the policy of the Government respecting primary industries. He said that during the past ten years the yield of industries in Australia, including fruit and dairy produce, had increased by 00,317,000 sterling, or by 225 per cent. The Minister, however, ignored a thrust from a Country Party member asking what was the increase in tin* cost of production.