AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

TAusjLriilin. & N.Z. Cable Association.' 1 REDHKARD COLLIERY DISASTER. SYDNEY, Feb. I. At the inquest on the Redhead Colliery disaster, it was revealed that an examination of the mine on the morning of the explosion showed nothing that could be considered dangerous. PRODUCE PRICES. MELBOURNE. Feb. b. Wheat (is 3;|tl. fis 4cl; oats -Is. Is Id ; barley, English, 4s fid Cape 2s llcl -Is; potatoes £lO. £H : onions £l2 As. £l2 10s. Hides Stouts and heavies with, substance firm ; mediums and lights, values were bard to maintain. ACTOR DEAD. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 5. Obituary.—Thomas Scents, the' actor. He was bom at Auckland sixty years ago. abortive CONFERENCE. SYDNEY. February .5. A compulsory conference in an endeavour to settle Morts’ Dock strike proved abortive. 44-HOUR ACT. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) ■SYDNEY. Feb. 5. The first ease of testing the? validity of the application of the State 44hour week Act to workers whose wages ami conditions arc governed h.v the Commonwealth Arbitration Court, was heard at Parramatta small debts court, when an -employee of Clyde Engineering Company sought to recover 0s Id, being the difference between £5 3s 2d received Ly him as wages for working 44-hours and £5 12s fid. the amounts set down by the Federal Award for a weeks’ work. Counsel For the defendant company, claimed that the State Act was invalid, and it was outside the Powers of the State Legislature. The Magistrate reserved his decision. The case will probably reach the High Court before it is definitely settled.

ARBITRATION COURT. MELBOURNE, Feb. 5. The Registrar of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court granted an application by tbe Wntorsiders’ Federation for an amendment to its constitution whirl) will have the effect of excluding from membership, Asiatics ami other foreigners, who are not naturalised British subjects. BUSH FTRES REVIVE. SYDNEY, Fob. 5. A strong wind caused many busiilircs in the State to break out afresh nullifying the strenuous labours of hundreds of workers in the affected areas. The most serious renewal was at Healesville, where damage was done to th-o water conservation reserve. A now fire occurred in AVhitefield district and assumed serious proportions, burning along a fifteen mile front. It is reported the township of Yallourn, where large generating works of the State Electricity Commissioner is located, is in danger from flames which are advancing on it from several directions. A USTRA LI A N POPE LATION MOVEMENT. (Received this dnv at 1.30 n m I SYDNEY. Feb. 5. The total arrivals in Australia during 1025 wo no 100.075 and departures 01,163. The principal countries from, or for which migrants arrived or departed were the United Kingdom and New Zealand, which contributed 53 and 17 per cent, respectively of the arrivals and received. 14 and 54 per cent, respectively of the departures.