AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian it X.Z. Cable Association.]

A I.'KTR ALLAN BITTER. -MELBOURNE, Feh. 21

A report presented to the council of co-operative butter and cheese factories association states the gain to farmers in Australia, from the Patterson stabilisMliou plan has been about two million sterling. Alter paying a bounty of threepence per pound on all butter exported, the committee had a sufficient halaneo in hand to make a rebate to ma.mdVu lurers of sevensixteenths pence per pound on butter, which amounted to £1:10.000. The council agreed it was imperative that a duty on New Zealand butter lie increased to sixpence per pound and sixpence per pound on cheese with a corresponding inerdase under the general tariff.

PETROL EXPLOSION. SYDNEY. Felt, if I

While filling a tank wagon in a petrol store, a Pynnont motor hackfired. causing the petrol to explode. ,T. Cahill and ('. Smith were trapped in the llarnes behind the wagon and were badly burned before extririitod. They died in the hosprtnl.

RED rxrONS. SYDNEY. Feh. 21

A meeting of unions held under the auspices of the Labour Council decided lo send fraternal greetings to the Chinese Nationalists on the e'e o! their victorious march on Shanghai, and also decided to appoint a. comniitto to work with the Trades and Labour Council to organise a mission to the Fast and lo the Soviet Union.

,lOCK FA'S FATAL INJURIES. AIFI.BOURNE. Feh. ill. During the running of the Stanley Steeplechase six horses fell and Jockey p Hinsdale was so lVadly injured that lie died in the hospital. Three other jockeys were taken to the hospital.

DISGni'XTLEI) FOOT?, ALT .F. f? S MELBOURNE. Feh. 22

Alouatt (viee-Captain of the New Zealand League team) says many of the team are penniless, having received no nionev since the strike at TTarrowgate. He added that the manager and team have been at variance since the beginning of the lour. 'Lite loss on the tour is estimated at £7OO.

TAX ON BIG PAPERS. MELBOURNE. Fehruary 21

The hearing has commenced in the ■High Court of the application liv tin Sydney newspapers, the S.m. News. Herald, and Daily Telegraph, to restrain the New South Wales Government front enforcing its half-penny

newspaper tax. Twelve barristers and five Kings Counsel are engaged in the ease.

The Commonwealth Government has been given leave to intervene to argue thal ’lie tax is invalid on the ground that it would constitute an intrusion into Hie Commonwealth's domain of taxation.

MELBOURNE. February 21. In the High Court, at the conclusion ,*f lion. '! r _\! (Tierm.i n’s argument on lx -half of t lit - New South Wales (iov'Tiinient. the Chief Justice said that, Inwould not call on louiise! for the newspaper- to reply. After consultation among the judges it was announced that judgment would he reserved.

FIRE AT SYDNEY. SYDNEY February 21. The factory of the Genera! Rubber Company nt. Surrey [fills was partly destroyed by lire. The damage is estimated at 1*9,000. Alany of the employees narrowly escaped death, owing to the rapidity with which the building filled with smoke.

labour, caucus. SYDNEY. Feh. 22

Tile T .;■«?)< >u r Caucus appointed :i committee consisting of country members of 11 io Labour Polly, (o confer with the Minister of Lands regarding the details of a now bill known as a bill to promote agricultural settlement. which the Government intends to introduce into Parliament durum the present session. The In'll will compel large landholders to Mih-diviile, or place under agriculture, large holdings which are now utilised for pastoral purposes. The areas to he compulsorily sub-divided apply only u> land suitable for 'agricultural purposes. A graduated land tax will be imposed oil land with exemption of ten thoussand sterling In value. The caucus approved of a scheme for paying out of pocket expenses of members ol the Legislative Council. They be paid no! more titan one guinea per sitting and will have to make individual application to the Treasury for the amount. A scheme for payment of Councillors by deductions from Ministers and Labour members salaries was defeated. CHILD ENDOWMENT HII.L. SYDNEY, Feb. 22. McMurtic and Coy. Ltd., one of the iirgest boot manufacturing firms in Sydney, employing six hundred men and women, announced that it the Child Endowment P.ill benomes law. the Company will be compelled eithe* to transfer their factories to Victoria or close down, altogether, and import their requirements from that State. The President of the Chamber of Manufacturers stated many other manufacturers woud !>e compelled to elose down if the Endowment Scheme is put into operation, resulting in an enormous increase oi unemployment.