AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1923, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SHIPPING CASE. SYDNEY. Sept. 19. Tn the .Limerick Shipping Company case. Admiral Clarkson gave evidence He said that he had come to the eonelusion that the Scott Fell Company could handle transport work at a cheaper rate than the Commonwealth authorities. That had inlluenccd him in allowing the company to run the Emerald Wings and the Bronze Wings. Witness denied the evidence of a previous witness that the latter had mentioned to him anything about tho manipulation of those vessels. He said: “Had he done so, he would have gone out of mp office pretty quickly, and not conic back.”

MESSAGE OF THANKS

SYDNEY, Sept. 19

Dame Margaret Davidson, in a message of thanks to the people, says: ■‘The wonderful sympathy given me, and the marks of true affection and respect- always shown my husband, oscpoially yesterday's tribute, shall never Ik? forgotten." CHINESE SOCCER TEAM. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. Sep. 2(1. At Tamworlh. the Chinese Soccer team defeated Newlands district by 9 to nil. PUDDiFOOT’S SENTENCE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. Sep. 20. There was a. lengthy debate in the Assembly on Mr BagiiaH’s adjournment motion to discuss the youth l’utldifoot's sentence. Sonic strong comments were made on the inadequacy of the sentence, ami need for stringent legislation to deal with sexual crime. Attempts to comment on the action of the .Judge who tiled tile case were checked. The Attorney-General, after reading the report from the .fudge explaining tlu' reasons on which the sentence was awarded, announced that the Cabinet and bar bad discussed the question of treatment of sexual offenders and perverts and intended introducing legislation dealing with till' matter and which would minimise the danger of allowing them to remain at large.

THE BELLBIRD MINE ENQUIRY SYDNEY. Sp. 19.

The inquest on the Bellhird Colliery disaster victims was to-day resumed. Koliert Wilson, n mine deputy, who went into the mine early on the morning of the accident and who was present when it ocenred, gave evidence that the Bellhird was not a dusty pit. Gas had never to Itis knowledge been reported at the present, nor at previous fire. Asked if there had been any complaints of bad air, he said that there always were complaints ol sluggishness in the air. but the men never complained of any ill effects. In replv to a question, he said that he thought that if there had been proper life-saving appliances, some oi the men might have been saved. He thought the lire might have been caused bv a lighted cigarette butt. 'Doctor Henry gave evidence that an examination of the bodies indicated that death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Deputy Sneddon said the pit was fairly sale and free of gas. CATERPILLAR PEST. (Received this day at R> a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 20. Swarms of caterpillars in tile Riverinn. I Haw ari a and Bingarn districts have caused havoc among the pastures and they also threaten the wheat crops. LETTER OF APPRECIATION. SYDNEY, Sept. 20

Dame Margaret Davidson scot a Ic' ter of thanks 10 the Premier, expressing her appreciation of the Government’s and th- people’s last tribal? <'? Sir Walter.

APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR

SYDNEY, Sept. 20

In I lie Assembly Mr Lang asked the Premier whether Cabinet had considered the advisability of appointing an Australian Governor or abolishing the jaist altogether. *■ Sir G. Fuller replied in the negative in each instant anil said that Cabinet had requested the Imperial authorities to appoint a Governor. The Liquor Amendment Bill was read a first time.

NO CONFIDENCE MOTION

HOBART, Sept. 20

In the Assembly a no confidence motion moved by Air Lyon, was defeated l>v fourteen to thirteen.

.MISSIONARY’S DEATH

SYDNEY, Sept. 20

Obituary.—Rev. Joseph King, of the London Missionary Society, and for many years in Samoa. He paid annual visits to New Zealand.

WIRELESS.

SYDNEY. Sept. 20

Al,r Fisk, lecturing on the value of wireless for farming communities, said in 1921 the producers will he brought into direct communication with the London markets, the messages travelling from Australia to London in onefifteenth part ot a second, at a (ost estimated to be one-third less than the present cable rates. Australia's present cable bill was L‘ 1.500.090.

RICH ORE. BRISBANE, Sept. 2D The Government geologist, reporting on the Chillagne find, says the exploitation of the ore from the -Mayflower mine lode must prove of great advantage to the Ojeers State Smelters and North Queensland generally. LABOUR. .MEMBER AND PROHIBITION. PERTH, Sept. 20 The Liquor Trade Union protested against the advocate of prohibition by Thomas Walker, the Labour member for Kaiiowna, during bis recent visit to America. The executive ruled that the Party platform advocates State control, also a State wide referendum, on prohibition with a bare majority and compensation. So long as members subscribed to State control they were perfectly entitled to adopt a pro or anti attitude on the question of prohibition, according to their beliefs.