AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] SHIPPING SUBSIDY. MELBOURNE. February 23. Burns, PJhilip, Company’s contract for Pacific Islands shipping at a subsidy of fifty thousand per annum expired at the end of January hut is being continued, pending inquiries as to the cost and advisableness of extending the service from Melbourne instead of Sydney. Shippers complain that under the present conditions they are placed at a decided disadvantage compared with Sydney traders and could develop a profitable trade with the islands if Melbourne were made the terminal port.

I!ACER BREAKS BONE. SYDNEY, February 23. It. is reported the hurdler Alolyneux broke a small hone in the leg and will not race again. COUNCIL TO COMPETE WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. SYDNEY. Foil. 23. On a purely party vote the Labour Aldermen (tarried through committee of the Civ Council a proposal that the Council elite. - into competition with reta.il tradesmen in the. supply of electrical equipment for domestic and iiidu-tiial use; that the. apparatus purchased from the Council be installed and repairs done free of charge l»v the Council's workmen.

Charges were made by I lie Alderman that, owing le the operations of an alleged ieleetrical Isupplv ring profits ranging from sixty to live hundred per emit, were being mad? under the existing svstmn.

THE ABOLITION BILL. SYDNEY. February 23

The X.S.W. Legislative Council reassembled to-day. tin 1 public displaying great inlercst in the motion for tin Council's abolition. There were thronged galleries.

Mon .Mr Williams's motion was that the Constitution Amendment Bill, providing for the abolition of the Upper Mouse, be reintroduced at the stage where it previously was left off. 'file motion was agreed to when the President asked if there were ally objection to the motion being taken as formal, Air Willis moved Unit the mailer stand over until later in the night, which was agreed to.

-Mr Willis's application was the result of a rumour that at least four of the Labour members would not. be in their places when the decisive vole was taken, and it was in the hope of getting in touch with these members that Air Willis secured the postponement of bis restoration motion until later in the night, as if there is only one Labour absentee the bill will lie defea I t*d.

BASIC WAGE. ■SYDNEY. Fob. 21. In the Arbitration Court Sir John Quick fixed the basic wage for 'lnsmania at 13s per day. Tim Unions claimed Fls. JOHNSON ATTACKS WALSH. UPROAR AT .MELBOURNE. SYDNEY. February 23. A -top-work meeting of the Seaman’s Union to-dav discussed the finances of the Victorian Branch. Tho proceedings led to disorder, wherein Mr Johnson violently attacked Tom Walsh and M,r Raeburn (the General Secretary) and tlm Victorian Branch officials, charging them all with the sabotage of the committee's investigaI ion previously cabled. Mr Johnson iirnposcd a vote of nneeiilidenee in ’linn WaUli and Mr Raeburn.

The proceedings lieeame so disorderly that the meeting terminated witliiiil; an v \ i ite being la ken.

razor slashing alleged. MKLHOURXE, February 23. Ext rniirdinnry scenes marked a stopwork meeting of the Seamen’s Union which discussed the finances ot the Victorian Brunch. One member ot the l nnm. who had investigated the circumstances, took off his coat and showed the meeting where he had allegedly been slashed with n razor by another prominent member. An uproar ensued, and eventually a committee was appointed to consult a solicitor to ascertain whether a u irrailt could not he issued on a forgery charge. Alter the meeting, which was the outcome of long agitation against tiie alleged disordered state of the Victorian Branch's liunnces in connection with the recent overseas seamen’s strike, several members of the meeting displayed iron bars and other weapons, which' they said they bail brought in self defence. FURTHER TROUBLE THREATENED SYDNEY. February 23. Further trouble is threatening between the Seamen's Union and the coastal shipping companies, over the seamen’s claim for wharl lahoureia rates at the ports along the coast where they handle cargo. Although the seamen signed an agreement in July last, after the const;,F and iutor-State strike, that tliey wiiuld handle the cargo, they arc again demanding wharl labourers intes. The companies are determined not to grant the demand, and they state that, they will tie up their vessels on which trouble occurs. Already the North Coast Company is refusing to give way to the men. MORTS DOCK DISPUTE. SYDNEY. Feh. 24. Mr Garden, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, says the management of Marts Dock has advised lmn that they could not accept the mlci of the Minister of Labour and Inr ustrv regarding his proposal to' call a conference to discuss the settlement of the dispute. Mr Garden says the management state the works will not he rc-opcneil till all the employees arc prepared to work under their awards. V conference of all unions concerned will he held to-day to discuss the position.