AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

f Australia A. N.Z. Cable Association. I NORFOLK ISLANDERS' REQEEST. MELBOURNE, August 20. The House of Representatives defeated the motion by Mr Thompson N.S.W.) for a Royal Commission to visit and enquire into the position of Norfolk Island which is under Commonwealth control. Thompson said the islanders were neglected by the Commonwealth and they wore hostile to tie present administrntion. and wished to belong to New Zealand which was j nearer and a better market. Mr Thompson urges the Commonwealth to band the island to New Zealand. The debate was adjourned. DISPUTE SETTLED. MELBOURNE. August 20. The Marrawnlt dispute was settled by a compromise. The men whose dismissal caused tbe strike will not- be reinstated. Tbe vessel will sail with a new trow on Saturday. SHIPPING TROUBLES. BRITISH SEAMEN RESENT CUT. (Received this day tit. 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. Aug. 21. One thousand seamen, firemen and stewards front every British ship in Sydney, held a. meeting to discuss tile agreement made* in England, whereby it reduction of one pound per month was to be made in wages. Tbe officials of the Australian Seamen's Union, including Messrs Walsh, Eletning and Johansen, promised they would support the, men. After Mr Walsh bad addressed tlm meeting tbe men resolved not to do any more work until they were guaranteed that there would be no reduction in tbe rate they signed on at. The guarantee must be given through I lie. Australian Federated Seamen’s Union, and tbe owners must also guarantee tint! I here will be no logging for refusal of duly. A further motion was passed I lathe men in other ports be informed of their action and asked to take similar steps. Tbe vessels affected are: Tbe Aeneas. Conco. Chitral. Calultt. Omnia. Port Darwin. Seinirarnis. Surrey and Thcmistoeles. Tbe Port Darwin will hi* the first to bq •,'(’• "led as she is due to sail lb if morning. Tbe crew desired not to return to the vessel after Hit* meeting, but they were told to go back and to refuse duty. In tbe event of the uflicers taking the ship to sea the men were assured that she would never gel past the next Australian port touched. A nut her meet ing is to I e held this morning. Tbe wages of tin* British seamen and firemen, after the rcdm-linii. will be £9 IDs and £9 respectively per month. ■MELBOURNE.’ Aug. 21. i Arnold \Y. Johnston, Chairman of ttie Overseas’ Shipowners ol 1 Australia, states (lint ’lie does not view seriously Die possibility of a strike on the oversea.- vessels, lie was advised of lb" events in Sydney, but pointed out that there bad been a fluctuation in wages of British .seamen lately. and this was only one of them. CANBERRA CAR RENTERS’ STRIKE. SYDNEY, Aug. 21. A strike has occurred among the carpenters at Canberra, due to the men ou one of the hostels being compelled to work forty-eight hours per week. Six hundred carpenters are out. Tbe Chief Commissioner informed the men that lbey would be paid oil unless they resumed, and. ns a result, several hundred left the works. Tbe general secretary of all the unions al Canberra subsequently staled (bat unless tbe carpenters were reinstated, and granted a fnrlv-four hour week, the members of all tin* other unions employed in tbe Eederal capita! would be called out.