AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1924, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] MARKET FOR. PRODUCE. RRISRANE, October 23. At a meeting to consider the best means for finding a market for Queensland products, Mr IJruee declared difficult problems facing Australia, like migration and defence could be got' over if the question of finding markets for the surplus products was settled. Unfortunately for Australia, New Zealand and the Argentine butter arrived on the market simultaneously with Australian butter, lie said it was just just ns good as New Zealand butter, but it realised ten shillings per ewt less. A sub-committee appointed to consider the question bad reported all members were of the opinion that the present position was impossible and had agreed on the necessity of spreading the surplus over the Rritisli market and that there should he some control over sales, and assistance in financing and marketing butter. With reference to dried fruit. Mr Bruce said it was not over production which caused chaos in that industry but a lack of efficient markets.

ARMOUR PLATE

SYDNEY, October 22

Mr Clegg, (General Manager of tlic Steel Product Coy) speaking of the possibility of the management installing an armour plate mill at the works, said at present that commodity was not a commercial proposition. If, however, the Government’s future policy of naval defence provided for the total construction of battle-cruisers within the Commonwealth, and they guaranteed a market for tlic product, tho company would not hesitate to establish an armour plate mill.

FIJI’S TRADE. SYDNEY, Oet. 23

Sir Joseph Carruthers, who recently visited Fiji, and is lecturing thereon, said Fiji trade is at a standstill, and it is to Australia’s discredit. The exclusion from the Commonwealth of Fiji bananas was to a great extent responsible for the unsatisfactory state of tilings. The Fijians now turned their eves to New Zealand, Canada and the United States, the trade with the last named having increased six hundred per cent and with Japan by four hundred per cent. The importance of the Fijian Islands to Australia was not properly appreciated.

VICKETS’ LTD. IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, Oct. 24. Sir Keith Smith, as general supervisor in Australia for Vickers’ Ltd., is completing an agreement on behalf of that firm with the Commonwealth Steel Products of Newcastle. The agreement which. it is hoped, will he completed in a few days, will have a far-reaching cefl’ct as it wiR mean that Vickers will now have their interests on tlic spot as far as Australia is concerned. Sir Keith says it will mean a big tiling for Australia and will be an important factor in industrial expansion. JOY lUDERS SENTENCED. SYDNEY. Oct. 23. Two young men. charged at Dnbbo with illegally taking and using a motor car without the owner’s consent, were sentenced to six and three months’ gaol with hard labour, respectively. The Magistrate said that joyriding was prevalent all over the State and it must be stopped. X.SAY. RAI! AY AYS. SYDNEY, October 23. Tin- Stale Cabinet considered the re. porl of tho Royal Commission on the railways and decided to adopt ilio experts finding in respect to appointing a chief Commissioner at a salary of four thousand, three assistant commissioners, and three area assistant commissioners. Cabinet is .opposed to the handing over of complete financial control to the Commissioners and also objects to the Commissioner having the right to select his own assistants.

KAWATIRI DISPUTE SETTLED SYDNEY October ,23.

Tito dispute on the Kawatiri at. Newcastle lias been settled. A compromise was arranged between the l nion Coy. and Seamens Union, as the result whereof the twelve seamen imprisoned have liecn released and placed aboard the vessel. It is understood the Coy. agreed to pay three additional members of the crew Australian rates, instead of on gaging them under the New Zealand award. The Kawatiri is scheduled to sail to-day to load at Ft. Stephens for New Zealand.

FLOOD DAMAGE AVERTED. MELBOURNE, October 2:1. Fine weather has brought to an end the danger of serious Hoods in the lowIving areas of the suburbs. Many of the .streets and some houses in Kensington were Hooded hut no very serious damage was done. The river is now falling.

TIIE MAWSON WOMEN. MELBOURNE, October 23. Senator Pearce states the report of the Arnhcim aborigine \ylio recently arrived at Darwin who stated that upon the approach of the Huddersfield expedition the natives, with white women went in canoes to an Island in the Gulf, was found to he absolutely incorrect. The Administrator of tho Northern Territory states the only Arnhcim natives who have been to Darwin recently are two who accompanied the expedition. r l he origin of the report was a mystery. RAILWAY ENQUIRY. MELBOURNE, October 23. In reference to the Purser enquiry, the liorso ran unplaced in the C'ooiigy Handicap and did not appear dangerous during the running. It was stated afterwards that Cairns, the jockey was just getting his mount into its stride and had him in good position, when Cairns was temporarily blinded by being struck in the eyes by mud. He did not know where lie was until lie entered the straight, when it was too late to make an effort to win. Another reason offered is that lie arrived fiotn Sydney only two days previously and had not recovered from the voyage.

HARD AND FAST. MELBOURNE, October 23. The steamer Casino is still hard and fast ashore in a dangerous position, stuck on rock and sand, a few yards from the beach and is making water fast.

4-1-HOUR WEEK. BRISBANE, October 23. The Assembly passed a hill to amend the Arbitration Act mainly by intro ducing the forty-four liour week. THE MAWSON WOMEN. MELBOURNE, October 23. Fine weather lias brought to an end the danger of serious floods in tho low - lying areas of the suburbs. Many of the streets and some houses in Kensington. were flooded but no very serious damage was done. The river is non falling.