AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] WESTRALIAN BANK ABSORBED. PERTH. March 9. A meeting of the shareholders of the Western Australian Bank confirmed a decision to amalganOte with the Bank of New South AVnle at. the 29th of .March. OWES TO KILL RAT'S. SYDNEY, March 9. i lie steamer Mak. imha lias shipped for Norfolk Island a small consignment of owls, brought from Sail Diego, to bo released on the island, in older to counteract the rat pest there. N.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY, .March 9. I" the New. South Wales Assembly to-day. the Bill for the levying of increased taxation passed all stages. Hon. Mr Raddelcy (.Minister of Labour) has departed on a visit to _ England without tho question of his pairing with another member of the Dpi position during his absence being finally arranged.

N.S.W GOAL STOPPAGE. SYDNEY. March 9. Ihe trouble over the deputies on the Maitland coalfields remains unsettled. More miners have been rendered idle, and there are now over nine thousand miners unemployed. The matter was referred to in the N.S.W. Assembly, and suggestions wore made to call a compulsory conference and to insist unon the Mines Act being fully carried out. The Premier promised consideration to tho suggestion.

LATE SHOPPING NIGHT. SYDNEY. March 10.

The Labour caucus meeting decided that tho Government should introduce in the present session a short measure abolishing the late Friday shopping night in the Metropolitan area and also at Newcastle and Broken Hill. MOTOR CYCLING. SYDNEY. March 10. Motor cycling at Marorbra the flying three-fifty resulted.—Brinck 1, Spencer Stratton 2. Ilehiirmn 3. Won by four lengths. The average speed was S3] miles per hour. N.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY. March 10. The Government proposed to set up a commission of three members and provide for the establishment of industrial contributions by employers and employees. Provision is also made tor levying a hospital rate on unimproved land values. The bill w ill not be put t through all stages in the present session. During the recess a proposal to insert a clause legalising a state lotUtv will le considered hv Cabinet aid

In the Legislative Council committer stage on the Basic Wage Bill was reached. Professor Pcden said lie desired to leave the matter of fixing the wage to the Industrial Commission instead of empowering and directing the Commissioner to declare the wage lie wished simply to empower Trim to do SO. thus leaving the act as previously, liis motion in this direction was carried by 3(5 to 31. The bill was then read a third time and sent hack to the Assembly. A STONEWALL. SYDNEY. March Kb The Legislative Council's opposition to the Basic Wage Bill which the Government wished to rush through yesterday deveb-ped into a stonewall debate which is still progressing.