AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

AIR CADET KILLED. MELBOURNE, Fell. 15. While making a solo Iliglit at Point Cook air forte station, a machine piloted by flying cadet Alexander Dix, aged 20 years, crashed. Dix was badly injured and died on route tn the hospital. The lnaehipe, which was a fighting scout plane, and was the fastest in use by the Australian Air Force, was completely wrecked.

WOOL SALES. AIELBOUBE, Feb. 15

The February series of wool sales have commenced. Prices showed little change compared with last month, except in wools weak in staple. Other sorts made full late rates.

LABOUR CAUCUS. SYDNEY. February 15. Despite the opposition of .Mr Lang, the Labour caucus decided that orphans should benefit under the Child Endowment scheme. Under the original measure orphans were specially exempted. STRIKE BALLOT. SYDNEY, February 13. The voting aggregate of meetings of northern coal fields shows the miners are divided on the strike issue. At most of the populous centres the proposals of the Central Council for a strike were defeated, while a mini her of smaller centres voted in favour. The press were rigidly excluded from all meetings. So far there are not sufficient returns to hand to indicate whether the Council's proposals will be carried, hut it is certain the issue will he closely contested. MELBOURNE. February 15. Mr Bruce in a statement said the Federal Government would take no action in regard to the mining dispute until the men returned to work. CARPENTERS STRIKE. BRISBANE. Fehruarv 15.

On the application of the master builders, the Board of Trade suspended until further orders, the bricklayers’ section of the Itiiildiug trades award as it applied to Brisbane. Counsel for applicants said they had singled out the bricklayers because they considered the bricklayers were the instigators of the forty hours week strike.