AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

A CLOUDBURST. SYDNEY, Jan. G. The floods in the Wagga district were preceded by a cloudburst. Many cattle were drowned, and hundreds of miles of fencing, and a great quantity of farm machinery were swept away. The damage is extensive. If HOURS WEEK FOR SEAMEN. SYDNEY, Jan. 0. Cabinet lias decided to amend the Forty-four Hours Week Act to include coastal seamen. TTfis clause was previously deleted by the Legislative Council. Unions which, before tlie introduction of the Act. worked 44 hours, are now considering appealing to the Arbitration Court for a forty-hours week.

DESTRUCTIVE WAGGA FLOODS. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m i SYDNEY. Jan. 7. The railway .service is seriously dislocated as the result of the storms in the Wagga district. Three washouts occurred on the southern line and one on the western. Considerable damage was done to the lines in each instance.

Serious loss to the farmers in !>• ed in the destruction of the surface over a large area which is lying fallow for the next .season’s crops. In some instances, paddocks have been practically washed away. The rush of water burst many paddock tanks and should a dry spell occur there will be. a .serious shortage of water. MOUNT MORGAN MINE. BRISBANE, Jan. 7. Operations at Mount Morgan Mine are to be resumed on a small .scale and will be gradually extended if results j arc satisfactory. It is 'intended to proceed with the open cut system of

The recent fire did not damage tho main shaft to anv extent, but the main problem now is the removal of the water, MUCH DISORGANISATION. SYDNEY, January 7. Ihe compulsory enforcement of tho forty-four hour week is causing much disorgansiation in various directions. Tlie courts arc flooded with applications for a readjustment of conditions. In numbers of cases mutual adjustments have been readied between einplovers and employees. The very general opinion among employers is that the reduction of hours will have a serious effect nn trade and will mean an increase in the cost of living for tho general public. A NEW ASSOCIATION. SYDNEY. Jan. 7.

The Australasian Performing Rights Association has been registered in Sydney. The objects are to protect the rights of authors, composers, and publishers ol music and songs. .The membership comprises the principal music sellers throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand, who hold the copyright or are the agents of holders of copyright of music.

X.SAV. LABOUR PARTY. SYDNEY, Jan. 7. According to an analysis of Ihe voting in the last election puLlisfied t.'V tlie secretary _nf tlie Nationalist Assaeiiition. the Nationalists and Progressives polled 430,2 to and Labour 438,578 votes. The analysis is made in connection with tho claim that the Government represent a minority of the electors and therefore has not a mandate to abolish the Legislative Council.