AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

APPEAL TO HE LODGED. PERTH. September 16. Tin' counsel for Treflene and (.miller is lodging ail appeal against the death sentence imposed on them. Counsel says that if the appeal is unsuccessful, he will prepare a public: |M-t i.tion for the commutation of tho sentence. OPEN INQUIRY WANTED. SYDNEY. Sept. 16. The Secretary of the Australian Railways’ Union has notified the Minister of Railways that his union insists that the .Minister shall advise the Government that an investigation of the Manilla disaster and the cause thereof is imperative, and that it should be an open one, conducted by a District Court J udge. NARROW escapes. FROM FURTHER RAILWAY (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) SYDNEY. September 17. Two further railway accidents have been narrowly averted on New South Wales lines since the Murulla disaster. A goods train consisting of forty-five trucks weighing six hundred tons, was travelling up a -six-mile incline when tho coupling attaching some 'twenty trucks to the engine snapped. On the same grade three miles down, the Brisbane mail train from Sydney was waiting till the line was clear. Fortunately upon, the snapping of the. coupling, the goods train AVestinghmi.se brake, which was severed, automatically brought both portions of the train to a. standstill. Had the brake failed as in the Murulla crash, the death roll would have been appalling.

hi the other instance it was noticed a bridge on the main western line near Orange was afire, rendering it totally impassable. The Burke mail train with two hundred passengers aboard was approaching from Sydney. A ganger was informed and he placed detonators on the lino and the train was brought to a standstill just before it reached the bridge.

SI lII’ HELD UP. HOBART. September 17

The Union Company’s steamer Kekerangu was delayed at Risdon by the crew. When the vessel was due to leave Risdon for Port Pine the cook left. The crew then asserted the assistant cook was not a unionist and refused to go to sea with him. Communication with New Zealand Union showed he was a financial unionist and the crew then demanded the vessel should have three cooks, hut a refereec to the award proved they, were wrong and the crew was paid off. X.S.AV. POLITICS. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 17. Tho basis of tho trouble in the Slate Labour Party between Messrs Lang and Loughlin lies in tho charges made by the newspaper “Labour Daily,” alleging overtures involving thirty-two sterling were made to four unnamed members of the parly hv Nationalist*, and opposition by Mr Lang to the demands hv Mr Loughlin and other members of the party to have a thorough investigation into the allegations. The “Labour Daily” whs requested to apologise to the party lor tbo statements but so far lias refused to do so. Efforts are now being made to get the executive of the Australian Labour Party to make investigations. Although after vesterdny’s meeting Mr Lang and Mr Loughlin shook hands, tilio breach is still far from healed and another early trial of strength between the contending sections is regarded as inevitable. Air (Bavin (leader of tbo opposition) is niso in trouble with his party, owing to his activity in opposing llie referenda proposals which gave great offence to a large section of Nationalists. It is rumoured in political circles that the outcome is likely to be that Mr Bruntnell will challenge him for the leadership ol the Nationalists.