AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] WASTE OF GOOD COTTON. SNIAFJL, THE NEW FABRIC. MELBOURNE. January 27. R. J. Fletcher, a prominent analytical and manufacturing chemist, has examined the recently arrived samples of synthetic wool. He describes it as a high grade cotton, treated by a special chemical process. It lias some of I lie qualities of wool and has lost some of the good qualities of cotton. It resembles wool only in appearance. The basic process of its production was tho treatment of longstnpled cotton with pure nitric acid and a very cold tomperaturc. The cost of the process must he very high and there must inevitably he difficulties in milling. The cost of manufacture would be much less than wool.

Mr Fletcher reports against the product on the ground of its lack of durability and tensile strength as compared with natural wool. lie describes the new Inline as waste of good cotton.

DOM MON IVKAI TH SHIPPING line loss.

MELBOURNE Jan. 28,

The annual report of the AuditorGeneral. referring, to the Commonwealth Shipping Line, says it showed a nett loss for the year of £200,364. 1 1 1 this had to l>o added depreciation and debenture interest, making the total less for tho year £503,879. The amount spent on the fleet was £1,067.--162, and its earnings totalled Cl 831 619.

SYDNEY. Jan. 27. Arrived M a rain a at six in the morning from Wellington.

MOTOR CYCLING. SYDNEY. Jan. 27. Tn the motor cycle tests at the .Mamuhra Speedway, Spencer Stratton, New Zealand, rode second to Brown in the Maroubra gold helmet event, a. ten miles .dash. The winner averaged ninty-one miles per hour, the fastest lap lieing done at a rate of ninetyseven.

SHIPOWNERS RIDICULED. MELBOURNE, Jan. 27. Lively proceedings marked the monthly stop work meeting of the Victorian branches of the Seamen’s Union. The shipowners’ letter was considered and alter a. long discussion it was resolved that the committee of management, as representing the union, should approach the shipowners again and put forward the suggestion that conciliation committees should lie appointed at. every port to deal with and reach a final understanding respecting each dispute as it arose. The general secretary, Mr Raeburn, said it was impossible for a committee sitting at .Melbourne, perhaps five Hundred miles from the scene of the dispute, to interpret the cause properly. The meeting agreed to inform the owners that it disclaimed the practice of any job control. The statement that an example should lie made of those men who delayed ships through being drunk was greeted with loud cheers. [ln a letter to Mr Raeburn on the 9th January, the Steamship Owners’ Association, stated that. the Interstate companies would in tut are decline to employ any member of Ihe Seamen’s Union guilty of having caused anv vessel belonging to the companies to he delayed, or ot having attempted In exercise job-control. Ihe companies said they would also retns.e to employ any man who failed, without reason, to join his ship, or was absent at. anv time without cause.]

RACE FOB AIEDICAL AID

MAR A.M A AT FULL SPEEDSYDNEY, Jan. 28. The 31a rani a arrived two hours ahead of schedule time, lho steamer went full speed when over three hundred miles from Sydney in order 1 " obtain medical aid for one of the urew, G. Ramsay who had his arm torn oil in the engine room. As there was no doctor aboard the ship the captain attended the man. In response to a wireless the Alaratna was met by an ambulance and Ramsay was taken to the hospital.