AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1926, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] N.S.W. COLLIERIES RESUME. •SYDNEY, June 22. With three exceptions, the coal mines resumed to-day, but it will bo several clays before the output of coat is normal. MELBOURNE, June 22. At the annual meeting of the Federal Executive of the Australian Labour Party, it, was decided to refer the question of the forty-four hours’ week to the reconstituted Arbitration Court. 'Lite Executive will also decide Labour’s attitude towards Mr Bruce’s industrial control referendum proposals. The Council of tho Australasian Workers’ Union is also considering its referendum attitude. Prior to the meeting, it was stated that there would he a. majority in both bodies against the proposals. H the Exi.'eiitive decided against the proposals, Mr Charlton and other Labour members of Parliament would he awkwardly placed, hut a split iu the Party will he avoided, by the Executive deciding that, while it is against the referendum, the members of tho Party can have a. free hand.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. SYDNEY. June 22. The schedule rates for insurance under the Workers’ Compensation Act. which comes into operation on the Ist. July, shows ;in increase of one hundred and fifty ixu- cent, over the old rates plus forty shillings per cent for sickness. In the case of builders employees, the rates are being increased from 80 to 11.5 shillings. For clerical workers the increase is from 2s (Id to Ids 3d; for printers from 13s (id to 73s Gd. The rates for other employments are correspondingly increased. A prominent master builder states that the increased liability will place an additional burden of £250,000 annually on the builders. A workman’s home at present costing eight hundred pounds, will in future cost about £B2O.

FEDERAL AFFAIRS. MELBOURNE, .June 22. The Federal Premier, Mr Bruce, has refused to accept an invitation from, the State Premiers’ Conference to meet the State Premiers to discuss the Federal Government's proposals to abolish the per capita returns of ettsioms and other revenue to the States by the Commonwealth. INQUEST PROCEEDINGS. -MELBOURNE. June 22. The inquest, on the Caulfield Railway smash on the 20th. May lias commenced. George Rogers, train running officer, whose duty it is to exercise supervision over electric and steam trains in the metropolitan district. gave evidence that lie was on the platform at Caulfield at the timo of the ’accident, almost opposite to where th. 3 collision occurred. Three seconds after the smash, he looked at the signals and lie saw the white telltale lights, indicating that the signals were set at danger. There was no mist, fog or rain at the iime, and lie had no difficulty in observing tits signals. . !