AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION ANIMALS FOR AUCKLAND ZOO MELBOURNE. March 31. Aboard the steamer Persic, which arrived to-day there are over three bund c-d South African animals for the Auckland Zoo, the largest consignment of a sort ever sent to Melbourne. The shipment includes zebras, hush pigs, apes, chimpanzees, baboons, spiders, monkeys, polecats. WOOL WAR. SYDNEY, March MI J. Rider, a South African sheepbreeder. has arrived and is purchasing stud animals. He states the South African farmers are now devoting much attention to wool raising, realising that -Merino slieepfarming is the safest proposition. He claims that within the next twenty years South Africa will lie as great, a wool-producing cmintry as Australia, which, he says, is rapidly becoming a mutton producer, while South Africa is steadily evolving into one of the greatest wool producers of the world. SWIMMING. (Received this dav at 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, March Ml. The two hundred metres test race to fill tlie vacancy in the Olympia swimming team, caused hv Herald’s inability to accept the invitation, was won by Christie in 2.27. THE PACIFIC TREATY. MELBOURNE, March Ml. Speaking at a meeting of the Australian Natives Association. Mr Pearce, in referring to Singapore, said emphatically that the establishment was not an infraction of the Pacific Treaty. It was clearly and distinctly understood, not only by the British delegation, but also by the American ami Japanese delegations at the Peace Conference, that such a base was to lie established. It was to he an essential part of the British plan for the defence of British interests in the Pacific.

MURRAY TO BE HANGED. MELBOURNE, ApriJ 1. A meeting of the Cabinet decided that Angus Murray, the murderer of Banker Berriman. at Glenfenic, be hanged on the 1-1 th.

TWO MELBOURNE FIRES. MELBOURNE. April 1. A fire, in the Flinders Street Extension Free Stores caused damage to the extent of over one hundred thousand. Firemen had many narrow escapes. A fire in the United Artists’ film store also caused many thousands worth of damage. NEW lIEXUDES CONTROL. CONDOMINIUM A FAILURE. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FRENCH. MELBOURNE, March fl. A deputation from the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church waited on Air Bruce regarding the necessity for a change in the administration of tlie New Hebrides. The speakers condemned the way in which Native Labour was allegedly exploited under the condominium and said that after a careful examination of the conditions said to he existing in the Now Hebrides, they found that the position of women on the French planlations was becoming intolerable. They were illegally recruited and illegally kept beyond their time. I hey were used to decoy men to recruit and were married or divorced at the will of the planters or given over to an o[en lilc of shame. Apparently the deliberate policy of the French in the New Hebrides was the extinction ot the natives with a view to substituting foreign indentuied Labour Horn 1 Tench posses-

sionss. ft was contended that the condominium failed to maintain law and order on the group to protect the natives from oppression or to settle a single land dispute. this was due to the tact that the .French failed to carry out their part of the joint Convention. I lie deputation contended that it a rapid acquisition of the "hole group by tin* French was not wanted to he accomplished the condominium must be terminated immediately. The deputation suggested the establishment of sole British control or. failing this, the partition of the group in order that at least half the New Hebrides would lie tinder British control. MEI.BOI’R NIC, March 31. Mi- Bruce, replying, said that Hie matter had been considered at the Imperial Conference, but as negotiations wore proceeding with France tor changes in the administration of the Islands it was impossible for him, at present, to make a definite statement mi the position.