AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] PR ACTICAL SYMPATHY. SYDNEY, Feb. 10. Sympathy, while it i.s sometimes cheap, can. on the other hand, take a very practical form, as has been demonstrated by the employees of one of tin* biggest collieries in New South Wales. Win n a fellow-member died, it. used to be their practice to eea.se work, and to take another day off to attend his funeral. They have now decided to remain at. work on such occasions, and to give the employee’s family or other dependents a substantial portion of Iheir pay for the shifts which, formerly. wore not worked. Recognising the practical spirit of this decision, the proprietors of the mine have announced that, if the undertaking i.s honoured. they will give £26 towards the cost of the funeral expenses of any man in tlioir employ.

AUSTRALIA’S PUBLIC DEBT. SYXDEY, Fob. 24. A summary issued by the Federal Government Statistician shows that, allowing for the amounts provided for in both the State and Federal financial statements the net public debt of Australia on the 30th of June last was £lO 31 7.757.061. which was equal to £167 14s Sd per head of the population. The Commonwealth debt totalled £461,514,634. of which nearly £301,000.000 was raised for war purposes'. WOOL SALES. SYDNEY. February 25. At. the wool sales, there was a good demand and the market was firm at late rates for all descriptions of comeback.-. Crossbreds in particular were m strong demand. Greasy merino sold to thirty-three pence. DISASTROUS FIRE. MANILA. Februarv 21. A disastrous fire destroyed a block of business buildings. The damage is estimated siL four million pesos. RAILWAY PENALTIES. (Received this day at 11.0 a.tn.l SYDNEY. February 25. In reply fo a question in the Legislative Assembly. the Minister of Railways said the guard concerned in the Mura lie railway disaster had been dismissed and the driver reduced to shed fireman.

IHTLDING STRIKE. BRISBANE. February 25. A mass meeting of building trade employees decided to continue the strike until the demands were granted.

FOOTBALLERS ENTERTAINED SYDNEY. February 25

At a reception to the League team tendered by New South Males Rugby League. Mr Muir said although New Zealand and Australia adopted now rules which were for the improvement of the game, people and players in England were against the new rules and he found it difficult to convince them of the advantage ot the innovations. He said the trouble of the tour would he fully dealt with upon their return to New Zealand, which was the proper place to discuss the matter. He felt hound, however, to contradict the statements of the suspended players in .Melbourne and further than that preferred Ids own organisation to investigate the affairs of the tour. He added that greater success would have been achieved in the tour by co-opera-tion. The Alaori team were entertained at. luncheon by the Council of the New South Wales Rugby Union. Air Partita responding to a toast said the English forwards were good in the scrummage work hut not so good in the open game. Football was played very cleanly.in England there was no worry about casualties causing a scarcity of players. 44 HOURS WEEK. SYDNEY, February 25. The Slate Industrial Commission gave judgment in a ease in which three unions applied lor a variation id awards j to provide lor forty-four hours week : that in certain cases if it was in Lite public interests to do so, a week ot forty-eight hours instead of forty-four may he awarded. The application ot unions were .therefore dismissed. Commenting on the Federal Arbitration Court’s forty-four hour week award for engineering trades, the President of the Chamber of -Manntneturers said it would have lar reaching effects. One, vital as far as New South Wales was concerned, would he to equalise conditions with \ iotoria, from which State New South Males was suffering from severe competition, it would probably mean also that most of the other unions would seek the, jurisdiction of the Federal Arbitration Court. Thus the result of the l.ist Federal referendum might he contradicted. An interesting position had now arisen whether the men would he entitled to full rate of wages for fortyfour hours week. Apparently this question would have to he settled bv the Court. The reduction of hours will certainly mean an increase in the cost of living. ADELAIDE. February 25. The possible effect ol the torty-tour hour week judgment has caused consternation in South Australian employing circles. It is stated it will cost the railway sterling for additions to the staff and £109.000 for additional macliiuerv which will lx* needed to cope with the shorter week.