AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Australia * N.Z. Cable Association.]

AUSTRALIAN UNION’S CLAIMS SYDNEY, Sept. 9.

The man on the land will read with anything but delight the union chillis on liehalf of agricultural employees. If anything approaching tho rates sought is conceded, then it will ho better to ho a farm labourer than a clerk within the close confines of a city office.

For those engaged in the task of digging potatoes, picking maize, peas, and beans, and threshing maize I6s a day is asked. Again, if a farm cook provides for fourteen men, he is, if the claims are conceded, to get £7 a week, with an additional 10s a n*|in a week if the number exceeds 14 in the mess.

COPYRIGHT LA AYS. SYDNEY, Sept. 9

Municipal Councils have received a rude awakening in the form of a demand that, as the conductors of public ilialls, they are under a liability to the owners of copyright music which might be played or sung in those buildings, ft appears that, unless they pay a fee and obtain a license they are open to legal procedings if tho copyright law is not observed.

Until recently Councils, more used to making dem/mds than having demands made upon them, thought the copyright law was a matter about which they need not worry. Tt shatters another popular fallacy, that a. person who buys a piece of music is entitled to sing or play it lit a concert or other public performance without any claim upon him by the composer. The matter affects not only councils and private persons who own or conduct public halls, but schools of arts and other bodies as well.

CONDITION Ob’ THE INJURED. SYDNEY, September 18. The majority of those injured in the Murulla railway smash are improving, but the condition of four is still seri-

THK LABOUR. CONFERENCE. SA’DNEY. September 13,

Mr Beasley, the Australian Trade Union representative at the Geneva Labour Conference, on ids return to Australia, said the conference was in many respects a. failure. There was a tendency to make the seamen’s conditions worse, instead of improving them. Also instead of doing the work it was called to do. the Conference appeared to do the direct opposite. Instead of lifting the weaker countries of the world towards the same social status as the more advanced countries, the latter were being forced to adopt lower standards. Mr llaseley was disappointed with the calibre of the Labour representatives met during his travels, both British and foreign. He thinks they lack initiative and foresight as well as enthusiasm, for tho cause of the workers.

DOAHNION RIGHTS Ol GOVERNMENT.

SYDNEY, Sept. IS

The Attorney-General, Air AleTiornan, on his return from EngV.uid, where ho interviewed the Dominions Office relative to the powers of the Government, claims his mission was a. success. He says public opinion in England and the Dominions, appreciates that tho constitutional statutes of the Dominion can be preserved'only by a full recognition of the principles of responsible Government, which will not brook any intrusion by n Governor into the sphere of .Ministerial responsibility. A TASMANIAN SURPLUS. HOBART, Sept. 18. The surplus revenue over the expenditure Kit the end of the financial year ended thirtieth June, was £28,220.