AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1927, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

POLITICAL. SYDNEY, Feb. 4

A meeting of the Parliamentary Opposition decided that no pairs be given by 'any member of the Opposition as from next week.

F X lON 1) ER EGISTERED. BRISBANE, Feb. 4

A mass meeting of Building Trade employees resulted in an overwhelming majority against submitting the question of returning to work to a ballot cabled yesterday. When this was announced to the Aiihi trot ion Court Justice AVebb announced the Court had decided to cancel Hie registration of Unions defying the Court, but in justice to Unions observing the award the Court would allow the award to stand. The Court was crowded add there were disorderly scenes after the judgment whs delivered. A section o£A the crowd sitting the “Red Flag’ greeted the employers as they entered with ironical cheers, while the employees representatives were cheered lustily. As members of the bench entered they were greeted with cries of “Make way for the mast-

ers. ' /Ater the result of the mass meeting was communicated to the bench, the Court adjourned while it considered its verdict. Babel then nppin broke loose, the crowd shouting, whistling and singing revolutionary songs. Altogether four Unions will he deregistered. i Melbourne Nationalists and Farmers Union Parties at present comprising composite government decided to appeal to the electors at tlie forthcoming State election ns separate entities.

AYESTRALTAN ELECTIONS. PERTH. Feb. 4. Cabinet has fixed the date of the elections for 26th March. AIR BRUCE’S RETURN. SYDNEY. Feh. 4. The Federal Premier. Afr Bruce, had an enthusiastic reception to-day on his return from the Imperial Conference. A number of prominent citizens, lncludiu<i most of bis col longues in the T edoi- T nl "Cabinet, met the Niagara down the harbour, boarded tbe liner and welcomed him. He also was tendered Cr civic welcome when the ship berthed and later a luncheon was given him by citizens at Sydney. Air Bruce announced that a delegation of three or four of the best financial and business brains of Britain would come to Australia to see whether some scheme cannot be devolved under which Autralia would he able to absorb more immigrants. BUSH FIRES. MELBOURNE, February 4. Hush fires are again raging near .Melbourne. They are swept along by a furious wind. A fire near Heildelburg lias destroyed much valuable grass land. The fire-fighters were unable to<hnJt the flumes, and could only direct them on to valueless land, where they eventually spent themselves. In the upper Maffra, fires are now blazing fiercely, hut hundreds of firefighters have the. position well in Hand.