AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] FINANCIAL CONFERENCE. MELBOURNE, May 2G. The State delegates to the Financial Conference, met, and, after a discussion, informed Mr Bruce that the delegates had unanimously decided that the Federal financial proposals were not acceptable to the States. Mr Brute then suggested that the conference might consider the practical details of finance find taxation on the assumption that the States were accepting, and had not rejected the Federal proposals, and the conference was resumed. The financial conference concluded alter Mr Bruce had declared that the Federal Government was determined to go on with the scheipe unless it was shown that the proposals were impracticable. Mr Allen suggested that another conference ho held next year, and that the proposals be resubmitted ; but Mr Bruce refused to

accept the suggestion. The conference then ended. COAL SHORTAGE. SYDNEY, May 26. Coal supplies are rapidly dwindling. At the end of next week the stocks for the oversea and inter-State and coastal shipping will be exhausted. Negotiations for a settlement of the strike at several collieries are progressing, end it is expected that at least three mines will resume to-morrow. The Broken Hill Proprietary Steel Works at Newcastle dismissed a number of mechanics who refused to give an undertaking to work a forty-eight hours’ week. MELBOURNE. May 26. Fifty-five hundred men arc idle in Victoria as the result of the coal strike, involving a loss of thirty thousand sterling in wages weekly. CROSSING SMASH ENQUIRY. MELBOURNE, May 26. At the inquest concerning the deaths as the result of tho level crossing smash at Boronia, the coroner returned a verdict of aeidentai death in all eases. NAURU MANDATE. MELBOURNE, May 27. A report to the League of Nations on the administration of Nauru was tnbled in t.lio House of Representatives. Tile Administrator replies to questions addressed to him by tbe League on the subject of slavery, by stating that slavery does not exist on tbe Island, therotor-o there is no necessity to take any steps to ensure its ; suppression. No particular legistivion !

lias been enacted, lie says, to ensure the prohibition of forced labour, lmt loreed labour for any purpose, even public works and services, was not permitted. Tin* recruiting of Nauruan native labour is not practised, the men ns a rule being employed by the day, week or mouth. Neither was recruiting in Nauru fur either terri tori lies permitted. Very few natives cared for any kind of sustained work.