AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. GABLE ASSOCIATION HIDES. -MELBOURNE, March 4. At the hide sales, bidding was fairly general. Lights, heavies, and kins declined Rl, but stouts and others were unchanged. GROCERS’ VIEM’S. SYDNEY, March 5. At the annual conference of the Retail Grocers’ Asocintion the chairman's speech stated that although the Federal statistics figures indicated a decrease in the cost of living, wages and other expenses had not decreased. The purchasing power of public money was probably on a par with 1914. Accountants investigations indicated that 19.49 per cent of the turnover went to meet expenditure in the average Australian Grocers’ shop. The Association was continuing a strenuous fight against what it termed the pernicious coupon system. It advocated steps being taken along lines adopted in England to render methylated spirits undrinkable by the addition of an ingredient which would not interfere with the commercial uses of the spirit. THE AORANGI TROUBLE. (Received this dav at 10.25 a.m.', SYDNEY March G. In addition to the question of accommodation another matter threatens to bold up the Aorangi. The Seamens Union states it is the custom that a crew whit h brings a new ship to Australia on tho first voyage shall leave the vessel on arrival, and be returned to the country where tile ship was built, at the expense of the company, and the crew living signed on from men who have been in the Union all along, and who built 'up the conditions under which the ship will sail in future. In the case of the Aorangi, a; cording to the Union officials, the Company wishes to retain a few hands in each Department. This is not acceptable to the seamen and cooks, whose officials require that a fresh complement he selected. The stewards have not yet- officially considered it- and arc holding a meeting on Monday.

The local manager of the Compan refuses to speak on the points raised.

.MINERS’ I! ES E .VI A LENT. SYDNEY, March 5. The action of Judge Rolin in sentencing Mount Konihhi miners to imprisonment is viewed with cmuiciU among the miners and resentment expressed by the men at what is regarded as the severity of the penalty. A meeting of the Council Federation has been called for Tuesday to deal with the position. No warrants have yet Ix’on reteiveil bv the M’ullongong, police for the arrest of miner-, who were sentenced.

DF. G A 111 S CHARGE. MIT. BOURNE .March 5. ft is learned that if til ol the Magistrate by whom the warrant for the arrest wrs issued is obtained, and financial adjustments are made, in* objection will lie raised by the prosecution to the withdrawn! ol the i barge against Do Garis. DISTURBANCE OF INDUSTRY. SYDNEY. March G. The Attorney-General. Mr Bavin, addressing Newcastle Chamber of Commerce said many recent disturbances in Australia had not been industrial disputes, but merely efforts to use the (list tirbanee of industry as a means to attaining some political object, or breaking down the existing economic social system. No arbitration mnclti'iery could deal satisfactorily with disputes of this kind. They caused untold suffering and distress. No mao and no body of men bad a right, to adopt this method of pursuing their own personal interests or own personal creed. Turning to the subject ol gen iimc nidus! rial a rhd ration. Mr Laint, said the coexistence ol slate and I'C'l|>ral tribunals caused »i* most Disastrous confusion in Australian I’.nl ts tries. Millions of pounds had been add od unnecessarily lo the cost of cai lying oil our industries. ihe time and attention of captains ol industry which should he devoted to the development of their enterprise, Wore wnff. -i 10 :,„.g, futile litigation and disc" ; -ms

of problems that need never have arisen. The Federal power was inserted i:i the constitution only for the purpose of enabling the Commonwealth authority to deal with industrial disputes. which by reason of their teiiitorial limitations the States could not effectively deal with. The Commonwealth Government came into existence to deal with matters which could not l,e effectively dealt with by the States. Reallv important Federal subjects wore matters like defence and external relations. Once industrial concerns were handed over to it. it would not he Ion"- before the whole control of trade and commerce would he transferred and much of the time and attention ol Federal legislators and Federal electors would he diverted from subjects which were in their real province.