AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1922, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. j WOOD PULP.SYDNEY. December 20. Mr Knibbs, Director of the Common- : wealth Institute of Science and Industry commenting on the successful tests of Tasmania timbers for the manufacture of paper pulp, said the Tasmania Governments experiments twice previously had failed, hut the Institute’s results with Victorian timbers at Geelong mills induced Tasmania to again under a. modified chemical process with the result that pulp which previously was considered fit only for brown wrapping paper, was now- prov, ed, after an admixture of foreign pulp, to be suitable for tho manufacture of a high grade paper of excellent quality. Mr Rniblts added that the cost of production was loss than the cost of imported pulp from abroad, in which case he was confident the necessary capital for the enterprise would be forthcoming to establish and develop the industry. FEDERAL election. SYDNEY. December 20. The position is still in such a. fluid condition that the papers continue to alter their estimates at short notice. The “Herald” now gives the Liberals 31, Labour 24, Country Party 13, and 5 still doubtful. The “Telegraph anticipates the new Parliament will consist of 33 Nationalists, 26 Labour, 14 Country Party. 1 Liberal, 1 Independent. The “Daily Mail” estimate is, Labour 28, Nationalists 25, Country 11. Liberal 2, Independent 1, doubtful 8. Senate figures are still insufficiently advanced and the position is too complex even to venture an estimate beyond that Labour appears likely to strengthen Its position in the new Parliament.

INDIAN’S CLAIM. SYDNEY. Dec 20. Sir Doral Tata, cabled on the 14th.. in an interview resented the attitude of a section of Australians towards Indians. He declared the people of India, were part and parcel of the British Empire, They threw themselves unreservedly into the great war. neither men nor money being spared. Why them should they he treated as aliens and worse than aliens, in parts of the Empire they sought to save." He meant by worse than aliens, that foreigner, even an enemy foreigner, could come to Australia and in a few years seek naturalisation, whereas Indians were denied tho franchise. It must not he forgotten it was not the West that civilised the East, but viceversa. Lidia had an advanced civilisation wlum the people of Britain were going about painted with wood. The contemptuous attitude of the West towards the East wu.s calculated to inspire a sensitive people like Indians with resentment. MELBOURNE. Dee 20. Mr Hughes says that Britain made an invidious distinction by lifting the embargo on Canadian cattle and not on Australian, which already was severely handicapped by their remoteness from the British markets. The action was incompatible with Imperial Relations and lie had made representations to tho British Government on the matter.

MANNING A SHIP. SYDNEY, Dec. 20. Tho Union Company applied to the Seamen’s Union for a crew for one of the Tasmanian steamers. It is understood the Union will endeavour to comply. KOItOMIKO’S CHEW. SYDNEY. Dec 10. After serving sentence in Maitland gaol the crew of the Koromiko were released and paid off. IRONWORKS CLOSE. SYDNEY, Dec 15). Following the decision of the ironworkers' assistants union to adhere to the forty-four hour week. S.vdmy Steel Works have been closed, rendering idle two hundred. HON. AY. M. HUGHES. SYDNEY, December 20.

An application was to-day made, in Chambers, on behalf of Air AA r . M. Hughes, the Premier, calling on Mr Claude Dclalande, journalist, to show cause why- a criminal prosecution should not be commenced against him in connection with the publication of an article in the. Sydney “Daily- Mail”,

(cabled on December loth, and 17th, bearing adjourned till Friday). (The article referred to land purchases byAsiatics and apparently is alleged to have declared Air Hughes to bo aware of the purchasing.) AfOERAKT’S GAOLED GREW. SYDNEY. Dec 10. The Union Company is socking the immediate release of ilie* Mocrak'i’s firemen to enable them to enjoy the Christmas out of gaol. AT’ST R ALTA XSH IPS .* MELBOURNE. Dec 20. The Arbitration Court has been hearing an application of the Steamship Owners’ Association for a variation of the seamen’s award, to loyally- compel t.lio Union to assist in the manning of ships. Air Walsh (Seamen’s Secretary) gnvci an assurance that he would not attempt to dissuade the men who want cd to work from doing so. NO FURTHER CHANGE. SYDNEY, Dee 15). Although tho counting of tho first preference votes in tho Federal elections lias now boon oompietd, except for postal votes, which must he disposed of before the second preference are dealt- with, there is no definite change in the state of parties.