AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

COMMUNISTS BARRED. BRISBANE, Feb. 12

By seventy-six votes to fourteen the Queensland Labour Convention decided that every member of the organisation should be required to sign a pledge declaring that iie is not a member of the Communist or any other organisation, tbe interests of which are opposed to the policy of the Labour party. GREAT LOSS OF CATTLE. BRISBANE, Feb. 12. It is reported from Charleville that cattle are dying 'in great numbers nil over the south west owing to drought. Ono owner lias lost between forty and fifty thousand bead. These cattle were over two hundred miles from a railway and were too weak to travel. ALL-WOOL PACK. WHAT THE TESTS REVEAL. .MELBOURNE, February 12.

A lest of the suitability of the wool pack which is favoured by the Bradfort I Clin other of Commerce for the packing of wool, was carried out in a wool store here. The pack was subjected to dumping and handling treatment as is customary with the jute wool pack. The woollen pack is of an attractive appearance and as it weighs only six or seven pounds, against the eleven of the iute pack, its use would effect a saving in weight, 'The opinions expressed by the wool trade were that the woollen pack as a result of the test, .stretched appreciably and it was considered that by the time the wool baled in them, reached the seaboard from the stations tile packs would be out of .shape; consequently it would be impossible to stack them in brokers’ warehouses three or four bides high, a practice which was essential in the economical working of the stores. Tile dumping test also disclosed that the pack lost in shape under this process. which would interfere wil h smooth working at the stores and would involve difficulties in respect to the loading of the bales to advantage in (be ships’ holds.

Another objection to He woollen packs being taken by tbe trade, refers to window cutting for showing the wool, which was necessary to conform with tbe rules of wool buyers. It had been shown that tile pack had elasticity and difficulty would he experienced in sewing them up satisfactorily. The cost of the woollen pack would also prejudice its adoption as a whole. Bradford interests were willing to pay the growers who used this class of pack an additional half-penny per pound for their wool, but only a minor portion of Australian wool found its wav into their bands.

SYDNEY FIRE. (Received this day at 8 n.mA SYDNEY, Feb. 12. A fire destroyed Petersen and Beonsen’s Coy’s soft goods warehouse. Li toe city. The damage is £40,009. Ibe tire occurred just after the employers had left the premises, and the whole damage was done within half an hour after the building caught alight. The fir-;* commenced at six o’clock. REDHEAD AI INK EXPLOSION. SYDNEY. Feb. 12. Giving evidence at tbe Redhead Aline disaster inquest', a district check inspector said that when lie went- to tbe lamt) room to obtain a lamp four days aftiw ihe explosion, there was not one lit to take down tin* mine. After a considerable time be got ono which lie considered n disgrace to 4ho company. lie also found gas in the mine, which had not been reported by Hie deputy.