AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.}

SYDNEY, September 15. Obituary.—Charles llemlley. a prominent, .scientist-, aged sixty-three.

STRAYING STOCK. SYDNEY. Aug. 20,

I lie claim wiili which one of the New South Wales Shire Councils lias been confronted for damages to K motor-oir sustained through colliding with a. calf wandering about on a road opens up a question of interest alike to motorists and local governing bodies. The belief that, in such a ease a Council is liable, because if it were to impound all stn.iv stock there would he none left upon the road is, | it appears, quite wrong.I The point is emphasised by one of Australia’s lending authorities on local government that those who allow their stock to stray are the, wrongdoers, and that a cl,'lint upon a Council in such circumstances would he no more logical that to base one against the Crown in respect of a burglary, on the ground that if the police had been, a little ►lore wide-awake all the burglars would be securely locked up. If, therefore. -1 cow declines to get out of the road of one’s ear. and something happens. flip owner of the car must call, if In* seeks damages, not on the Council, hul on the owner of the errant cow. LABOUR SQUABBLE. SYDNEY, Sept. 2. The central figures in yet another little squabble in caucus are the Premier (Mr Lang) and the youthful -Minister for Education (Mr Mutch). Tho storm bus boon long brewing—ever since tlie struggle, in fact, for Party leadership, in which Mr Mulch all hut defeated Mr Lang for the post of T’romier. Mr Lang is in the position of not being able to get rid of his critics in the Cabinet, -for it is the caucus which makes and unmakes Ministers, and chooses the Premier’s Ministerial colleagues. d

The group who effectively control caucus are not likely to substitute Mr Mutch for Mr Lang ns Leader. The Minister for Lands (Mr Lougjilin) is a limit the only Minister who could at present defeat Mr Lang for the Premiership, and lie is loyally serving his chief. Mr Mutch, one of the ablest men in tlie Labour Party, is the host-dressed man in file State Parliament. He is one of those men who do not believe, than «. man ought to dress like it Basil! Bazouk simply because he espouses the working man’s cause. He has not only youth and ability on his side, and a big following, hut also the comforting knowledge that .if lie cannot defeat Mr Lang for the Premiership, Mr Lang cannot dismiss him. even if he wants to.