AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] FEDERAL CABINET. SYDNEY, April 24. „ It is understood as a result of tbo Federal Cabinet meetings held at Sydney during the last week, the Federal Government will abandon field of taxation on incomes, also the per capita payments to stop, but will retain tlie coinpany tax. Details are not yet completed. YACHT’S VOYAGE. SYDNEY. April 24. Tlie yacht Psycho which arrived yesterday from. Wellington after a twenty day trip encountered a portion of the storm which raged throughout the week-end. She came through practically unhurt. Leaving Picton on the oth the yacht was only sixty-five miles off Sydnev on the 14th and then her progress was stopped for four days by adverse winds and overwhelming sens, and the little craft was hove to for many hours, once for a whole day. Then north-easterly winds took her off her course and it was not till yesterday that she was sighted off the Heads. ALLEGED DUMM.YLSM. ■SYDNEY, April 21. Giving evidence before the Federal Election Commission a witness who acted as publicity agent in the various elections both for Nationalist and Labour parties, alleged that wholesale dummying was committed in the East Sydney electorate at the last Federal and State elections. A system has been organised for years, mostly on behalf of Labour. Witness declared that when working lor Labour be was a party fo this impersonation, but had to be blind to it, otherwise he would have lusf Ins job. A GOLD FIND. MELBOURNE. April 21. Fifteen years ago Edward Holloway showed specimens of rich gold which he lie reported he had discovered at Narrandy. Within a week he died through bursting a blood vessel, without disclosing the whereabouts of the find. Exhaustive searches since failed to locate the find until Tuesdnv when three men from Melbourne working throughout the night announced they had discovered the lost reef. They claim it to he a continuation of the Caledonian mine lode from which a thousand ounces of gold was taken immediately. A rush has set in and all the ground in the vicinity has been pegged out. including the police station yard. OBJECTION TO REGISTRATION. MELBOURNE. April 24. A representative ol the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association called at the Commonwealth Arbitration Court offices and lodged objections to the registration of the new Seamen’s Union of Australia, an application for

which was lodged by Walsh, as general president and Raeburn, as general secretary. several weeks ago. Ihe Association’s contention is that the appli cation for regsitration of a new union is equivalent to an application fur reregistration of the old union which was deregistered last year. Ihe real reason for the union application, it is stated, is to strengthen tho legal position of one of the two rival factions among the officers of the union, the registration of which was cancelled in order that some of such officers who were not joining in this application, may he excluded from any lawful participation in the affairs of the union or lira noli of the union. DESTRUCTIVE BUSH FIRE SYDNEY. April 2.5. A bu-h lire in the Tenterlield district destroyed over three thousand acres of hush before hcnv.x rain extinguished the flames. SYDNEY DEVELOPMENTS. SYDNEY, April 25. An irritation policy to deleat the decision of the High Court, which upheld an appeal against the N.S.M . Forty-four Hours Week Act. has been decided on by the unions registered in the Federal Arbitration Court. A stop-work meeting of the Federated Coach makers’ Union was attended by two thousand men. It was decided to apply immediately to the Federal Arbitration Court for a variation of the award to give tho benefit of the forty-four hours week to all the members of the Union.

The members of all the unions in the metal trades group, although ordered by the employers to work yesterday, refused and between five thousand and six thousand employees failed to commence. Engineers, plumbers, blacksmiths, moulders, rftaehmnkers and other unions arc affected. The officials of the union concerned state that a.s tbe men have already experienced the benefit of tlie forty-four hour week, they will not return to the fory-eiglit hour week. .H-HOUR TROUBLE. SYDNEY. April 26: Leading Unionists hope for a solution of the trouble over the torty-untr hours week will he reached as a result of Mr Baddeley's mission to other States, where lie is endeavouring to prevail upon the respective Premiers to adopt the -I t hours act. Mr Baddcley speaking at Melbourne said there was no possibility of a pcimanent industrial peace among l uionists until settled. TASM A NIA N APP( > INTM EN T. HOBART. April 26. Premier I vons announced that Frank Ernest Ward of New Zealand has been appointed Director of Agriculture m Tasmania. Ward is a Tasmanian by birth, but lias been for several years in New Zealand.