AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association. 1

n.s.ay. bo lit res. SYDNEY. October 29. In the New South Wales Assembly, Premier Lang sprang a surprise by moving for leave to introduce a bill to validate certain actions of the Railway Commissioners in connection with the regrading of the 1917 strike loyalists. He intimated the Government intended to put the bill through at one sitting. He moved tlie suspension of the standing orders to enable this motion to be. carried.

It was amid disorder that the Bill was introduced.

Mr Lang explained the Bil was neeessarv to remove a technical difficulty which bad arisen through a decision of the Court in rendering illegal certain acts of the Commissioners relating to the reinstatement of the railway employees. Air Lang added that unless the Act was passed, the railway service would lie thrown into the utmost confusion.

Air liavii! opened an angry debate wherein lie charged tlie Government with forcing the hands of the Railway Commissioners, also unfairness to the people, and browbeating loyal men of the service, who were unable to defend themselves. flic Government, bad not yet won: the Bill had to go to the Legislative* (Voiiueil, lie said, and if the Council accepted a bill deliberately designed to reward disloyalty and dishonour. then it: would be a good thing if the ( oitneil were wiped nut. of exist-

lu connection with this debate on October 1711 1 . the Equity Court to-day granted an induction implied for therein holding the Railway Cmiimixsioners had. under the Railway Act, mi power to repress sin ollicer of their own vinlition. the commissioners being ordered to pay costs. 'flic debate was one of the bitterest, and hottest over heard in the House. Air Bruxuer (Na! nudist’ 1 said the Government were prepared to back up anybody who wanted to see the wheels of transport stopped and the country plunged Into chaos. They were paving the way for a similar suite of affairs in Queensland. Other Nationalist speakers also fiercely attacked the Government, amid eoulinimus excitement. The speeches were shortened by Irequcnt use of the gullotinc and -the Bill passed through all stages and was sent to the Council before the House rose. It is anticinaled the Up-r-icr House will reject it.

The N.K.W. Assembly read a first time Hu* Bill abolishing proportional representation at State elections and re-inl reducing the single seat, system. HUSH KIBES. MELBOURNE. October 29. Following the hot spell widespread !m*h lives arc raging in the country. BUDGET PURPOSE. SYDNEY. October 80. Mr Lang stated when the Budget i- brought down next month, provision will he made for reduced income taxa- ! ioll. MOTOR FATALITY. SYDNEY. October 80. A motor-car containing four men, inwiug to a mechanical defect crashed through the guard rail bordering a mad near Emu Plains and fell 80 foot into a dry watercourse. Of the four occupants, Edward Dennison .McDonald and Clyde Getts were killed and Frederick Woodall seriously injured. The accident was only discovered when an-

other party of motorists noticed the broken fence, peered over tin.' brink, s.-iw the w reckage below and I lie pros;:rntc forms of t he i ii-tini-. INCREASED SALARY. PERTH October 80.

The Assembly carried a motion that the Parliament ari salary ol L 100 sterling a war -,vas inadcouate and should 1„. ra i -.<*,) iiMiiicrliaidy. the diii-ion was taken on non-parly lilies. AYELCOAI E RAIN. SYDNEY. Oct. 80. Following on a hot and dry spell ol weather rain has commenced in many tkistrktv in the wheal an-n. SCULLING. GOODSELL AND PAD DON. SYDNEY, Oct. 30. Until si idlers arc putting in some exceptionally fast work. Gooilscll covered a mile in. 313 secs, compared with 881 sees, helore last championship rate. Paddun did a mile in 81 7 sees.

EMPLOYEES’ REGRADING BILL. SYDNEY, Oct. 30. The Legislative Council read a first time lhe Railway Employees Regrading Bill. Whether Lhe Upper House will hack up the (lovcriiliient’s polic.i ill this matter remains unknown till Wednesday, to which day the Council adjourned. DEMENTED MOTHER'S TERRIBLE ACT. SYDNEY, Oct. 30. At the inquest on tin- ( neetham children, the statement made hv Mrs Cheetham to the police was read. She. said she was iniicli worried over the failure of the hitsiness through neighbours jeering at her ami blaming Iter for neglecting her children oil account of the business. She a iso believed a warrant was out lor her arrest on account of such neglect. She went Lo the Police Court to sntislv the warrant. The police advised her husband Lo take her to a brain specialist. I lie woman thought her brain was soil and uoultl rather kill the children if she could not work lor them than thai the\ should have brains like hers. The husband departed lor work on the day of the tragedy and she got an ; axe and made Nellie kneel, close hot eves and then hit her twice on the head. Then she took the lathy and chopped its head oil', alter which she choped Sydney’s head oil' and then tried, to cut her own throat, hat the knife was too blunt. The doctor who saw the woman alter the tragedy considered her demented. The woman was committed for Dial on a charge of murder. DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY. Oct. 30. The Homehttsh stock salcvards refleet the clroimht renditions. Sheep are living crowded into the markets which are full. The carrying ''apacity of the railways is taxed, all available trucks being booked weeks ahead. .1 his applies particularly to the north and north-western grazing areas. Manv thousands of sheep and cattle were also moved to more favourable districts. Reports from southern disliu'ts a < more cheerful, but the wheat has reached a critical stage, and without ram shortlv mowers will he in a had way.