AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] POLAR FLIGHT. SIR KEITH SMITH’S OPINION. ADELAIDE, May 20. “It is a remarkable achievement for , two men to have flown to the North Pole,” observed Sir Keith Smith, who i with his brother, the late Sir Ross Smith, was the first to fly from England to Australia, referring to the flights to the Pole of Lieut. Byrd and Captain Amundsen. “To-day is the day of commercial aviation,’’ he added. “Stunt living no longer appeals. The difficulties encountered in the flight to the North Pole, once the ground is left, should not be greater than those met in flying in the tropics. Actually, I should sav. the tropics would present more difficulties on account of sudden changes in temperature. “Polar flyers claim that London to Tokyo and similar trips in future will he made over the Arctic ‘zone,’ because that is the shorter route. But I think the extreme cold which prevails in the Arctic region has to be considered seriously.” FEDERAL AFFAIRS. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 23. At a meeting of the Federal Loan Council the question of taxation of interests on loans issued and securities sold in Australia in respect of borrowing of other countries was considered. Tt was decided to ask the Common- 1 wealth and State Governments to considcr the question of taxing interest 1 on such loans securities. ( STATE COAL. STRIKE OFF. I SYDNEY, May 88. •' It is announced that on behalf of the strikers ,at the State Coal Aline, s Lithgow, that the men will resume c work on conditions prevailing before t the strike. Application is to be made on behalf of the men employed in i the Colliery for the Industrial Com- < mission to adjudicate on the dispute. I The men numbering between lour and > five hundred have notified the Alin- i ister' Tor Labour and Industry, that a

they ,are prepared to abide by the Commissioners decision.