AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

lUBTILALIAN AN f) N.Z CABI.C AHMOUXafION BUILDING (OLLAI’SE ENQUIRY. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) .MELBOURNE, June 17. At the British Tobacco Building enquiry the Crown alleged the steel ligatures were too far apart. The men engaged in lime washing the beam were paid an extra ltd per square yard for filling up apparent cracks ill the concrete. As the material was too wet for them to work, the action of the brush sometimes brought away a large portion of the beams. There was no wall beam under the fourth floor. Although part of the design mid walls of tlie lift well were only lour inches wide, other walls were six inches. They were designed to he six inches throughout. Engineering experts considered this structural defect, combined with the weakness of the concrete as responsible for the collapse. The hearing was adjourned. LABOUR. GOVERNMENT'S FIRST ACT. (Received this day at 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, .lime IS. Tho first administrative act of the new Government was to abolish high school fees. Henceforth education in high schools will he free. Under the Fuller Government parents in a position to do so were compelled to pn\ for their children’s edueurloi in these schools. OLD MAN’S GREAT NERVE. PERTH, June 13. Andrew Ronald, aged sixty, was engaged in setting spring gnu dingo traps when one exploded, shattering his leg. Ronald stoically got to work with his knife and cut oil’ the damaged limb and bandaged the stump as best: he could. Assistance arrived, lmt he died shortly afterwards.

the moxaro trouble. ■MELBOURNE. June 18. AA'hen calls were made for watersillers to unload cargo from the steamer Momiro there was no response and all efforts bv the Melbourne Steamship Company to secure labour were futile. Any possibility of reaching a settlement of the present maritime dispute is discounted by l he determination of the shipowners to see the trouble through. It is not regarded as likely that volunteer labour will be sought to unload the Muiinro at the pro-, nt juuet lire.

another y ess el tied up. SYDNEY. June 18. 'The real reason for tin* holding up of the steamer 'Time wa- the retusal „r the owners to insert in the now articles a clause guaranteeing the wages conditions of the old award. The vessel will he tied up indefinitely. On general lines the dispute is identical with that which occurred on the Momiro Melbourne. The articles of many ships expire on the 2th June and an extension is then expected.