AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1922, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. SYDNEY, September 20. In the Assembly the Premier (Sir George Fuller) in reply to a question said should any emergency arise from the Turkish situation the Government would stand by the British Empire. Labour members favour an immediate conference of State and Federal members, to discuss the question in all its aspects. Some suggest that in the event of war, Australian shores were not immune from invasion, if Great Britain were engaged elsewhere. The total wheat area sown this season is 3,868,000 acres, an increase of 179,000 acres. Last year’s glowers expect to cut 504,000 acres of hay. A conference of iron trade officials was notified by a private syndicate. It is negotiating with the Commonwealth to take over Cockatoo Island as general engineering workshops. The conference passed a resolution depreciating handing over a national enterprise to private enterprise, hut assuring the latter of co-operation of unions in the event of negotiations succeeding provided the new company conforms to the conditions previously existing in shops on the waterfront.

WOOL SALES. BRISBANE, September 19. Prices showed a sharp rise compared with the preceding woo] sales. Fourteen thousand bales were offered. French were the biggest buyers. Italy and Germany bought heavily. Increased prices range from ten to fifteen per cent.

FEDERAL DECISION. MELBOURNE. Sept 20. Tn the House of Representatives Mr Hughes added that he was satisfied the House could rest 'assured that the gre-nt bulk of his fellow citizens throughout the country would support the stand the Government had taken up.

Mr Charlton declared the position abroad did not warrant sending an Australian Contingent. Mr Lloyd George instead of seeking the League of Nations to settle the dispute selit a request to the Dominions for assistance. It remained for Mr Hughes to ask Sir J. CooJ&'Mo approach the League of Nations.’ That practically constituted a vote of no-confidence in Lloyd George. The public men of Australia should have sufficient courage not to lie carried away hv sentiment over this.

They were not helping civilisation by stepping into the war without justification. As Mr Hughe# had said, ther was nothing urgent and a referndum should be taken to see if thepeople approved. The House agreed that Mr Hughes’ statement, cabled on Monday, should lie printed.