AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. SYDNEY. September 7

The Parliamentary Labour Caucus Sub-Committee, which has been inquiring into the working of the Workers’ Compensation insurance rates, reported in favour of a reduction of rates forthwith hy one-third, and also of a review at the end of December with a view to further reductions. In the case of certain rural and milling industries stfll greater reduction is favoured and a number of anomalies will also be removed.

The Committee recommended the establishment of State monopoly of the compensation business. It regards such •action necessary if the rates are to be brought to bedrock level. Probably legislation creating a monopoly will he introduced next session. It is ’ also probable that a sickness risk, as such, will he abolished, and that this' risk will bo embodied in all-embracing fiat rates.

SHIPPING, TROUBLE. SYDNEY. Sentemher 7

There has been a recurrence of trouble in connection with inter-Stnte shipping, as a result of action on the part of the seamen, which the owners regard as an attempt to reintroduce job control. Lately several steamers have been held up at Sydney, Melbourne and elswhere, through firemen absenting themselves from duty, and other similar causes. To-day the crew of the Howard Smith steamer “ Bomhala ’’ were paid oIF, owing to trouble with her firemen. The sailing of the Kawatiri for Fiji lias been, considerably delayed, and ilia Holymun liner Marawah is tied up at Melbourne.

The ship-owners claim that these delays are breaches of the agreement, between the Commonwealth Steamship Owners’ Association and the Seamen’s Union in August of 1926. They are considering possible action in the matter.

REFERENDA VOTING. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. Sept, 8. The latest returns of the referendum vote give New South Wales reply “yes” to both questions with majorities of 89 and 23,218. Queensland has also swung to yes on Ine first question with a majority of 7,659. I Totals for the Commonwealth are:— First question.—Yes, 1,101*82(5; No. L. 460.773. Second question.—Yes, 1.057.822; No, 1.413,901, .More returns are to come.

MINISTERS EXPELLED. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 8. With one dissentient only, the Cenal Council of the Australian Clerks’

Union decided to expel from the organisation Premier l.ang, the Minister of Lands, Mr Lauglilin. Minister ol

Health. Mr Calm, Secretary of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Mr O’Halloran, Chairman of Comniitttees, Air Grieg and .Mr Murphy, a member of the Legislative Assembly. T'hc allegation made against them is that they failed to give effect to the policy of the Union, which for the past eighteen months lias been, agitating for betterment of conditions ot employment of members engaged in the public

service. The -Ministers, interviewed later, de dined to comment on the situation.

RAILWAY FREIGHTS AND FARES. AIELBOURNE, September 8. The State Cabinet sanctioned an increase of five per cent on railway freights and fares which are expected to yield half a million sterling additional revenue.

SCULPTURAL GROUP. MELBOURNE. September 8. 'flic Government have concluded an agreement with Sir Bertram Mackcnual for the completion, according to the original design, of sculptural group for Port Said Memorial to soldiers of the Australian and Now Zealand forces who laid down their lives in Egypt. Syria and Palestine. The group was begun hy C. but was not completed at t ! ’>e time of his death in October last. Mackennal will deliver the group before the end of 1929.