AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

fAustralia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

BONING AUTHORITIES DECISION. SYDNEY, March lb. The boxing authorities in Sydney. Melbourne and Brisbane have decided to restrict all contests to fifteen rounds from March 2Gth.

PACIFIC (HEALTH CONFERENCE. MELBOURNE, March lb. Embodying the resolutions which were passed by t.he- 'lnternallanal Pacific Health’ Conference in Melbourne in December,- a report was tabled in the House of Representatives, the feature of which is the recommendation that a special system of intelligence should he establifdiel between tho health administrations of the Islands in the Pacific south of the Equator, and between longitude 140 east and 140 west. The object of the service would be tho better prevention of the spread of epidemic diseases and the improvement of public health measures generally, it would supplement but not replace the work of the Eastern bureau of tho League of Nations and health organisation at Singapore. The region covered will be known as the Austral Pacific Regional Zone, and would include Australia New Zealand, Papua, Solomon Islands, New Lai donia, New Hebrides, Gilbert and Ellis Islands, Fiji, Samoa Cook Islands, Ti.diiti Group and Tonga. The Commonwealth, would keep m tone with sources of information outside tho regional zone. In connection with epidemic diseases, which might occm in countries bordering the T. ac i , commendations dealing with M * l ‘. tine co-operation between count es m tho regional zone were also uuoii. Tho conference recommends tho consideration of the possibility o establishing a, mwlcni latonoory i association with tho Conti* * Administration of each territory, and equipping a vessel as a mobile h boiatory tar investigation and medical patrol work.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE CONGRESS. PERTH, March 10. The Annual Congress of Associated Chambers «>'' Commerce of the Commonwealth agreed to a request that tho Commonwealth authorities, and the International Chamber of Commerce Federation of Chambers of Commerce of tho British Empire and London Chamber to use its influence to secure a revision of the constitution am r idcs of procedure of the International Postal Conference so as to ensure the adequate representation of countries most interested in tho postal and allied subjects. Tho Congress protested aainst the limitation of code words to five letters and urged Hi at the rule permit code words of ton letters. The Congress resolved to urge the Commonwealth Government to take action to make compulsory, the use of wireless telegraphy or telephone transmitting and receiving instruments with a day rano-e of one hundred miles on every foreign going ship, Australian trading fillip, or ship in coastal trade, carrying three or more passengers or being of one hundred tons gross, registered tonnage or upwards.

SIR RUPERT CLARKE'S ESTATE. MELBOURNE, March 15. The lave Sir Rupert Clarke left real estate in Victoria valued at personal property vMued at £2OUm, and also estates in New South AA ales of a value which is not stated.

SHIPPING RING. SYDNEY, March 10

Private advices received in Sydney state tile Aberdeen Line of steamers—the Euripides, Themistocles, and the Demosthenes— are being transferred to the Shaw Savill Company, and are being placed on the New Zealand run, after one more trip each to Australia, when., possibly they will be converted into oil-burners. The steamers Pakeha and Mabana are being transferred from the New Zealand to the Australian service. Further proposed alterations include the diverting from New Zealand to Australia of the steamers Atlienic, Corinthic and Tonic, in company with the Arawa and the Tainui. All these ships will run under the auspices of the White Star Line. Finally, advices show that the White Star Company’s steamers Medic, Suvic and Punic are to be converted info cargo vessels, but are remaining in the Australian trade. >

BASIC WAGE PROBLEM. SYDNEY, March 16.

The Parliamentary Conference on the wage question adjourned till Friday, after appointing a Sub-Committee to draw up a now formula as a fresh basis for discussion .The object is to enable the the Industrial Commissioner (Mr Pcddington) to declare a basicwage for a man and wife and one child, such declaration to lw made in the light of the introduction of the Family Endowment scheme. The idea is not to disturb the present basic wage of £4 ,| s for a man wife and two children, which expires in June; but to arrange a new wage to operate simultaneously with any endowment scheme which may he decided upon.

THE COAL DISPUTE SYDNEY, March 10

The Minister of Mines anticipates the Maitland coal dispute will end tomorrow under the amended Mines Rcgulation Act. The mine Deputies alleged it was impossible throughly to discharge their duties within the statutory hours. Consequently, when the miners reported for work they were unable to start because the inspections were not completed. To meet this position, new regulations have been drafted. Inspectors are now instructed to visit the mines and i-e-allot to the deputies such districts as they can thoroughly inspect within statutory time.

ENDOWMENT PROBLEM. SYDNEY, -March IC.

Owing to the conference between the two Houses over the basic wage and family endowment problem, there was no sitting of the Assembly to-day. Inofficial reports indicate that conference has practically reached an impasse. The Opposition Party managers are insistent that the Industrial Commission should be empowered to make a new basic wage declaration on the basis of an adult- male without any children, but the Government managers will agree to this only on the basis of a formula which will prevent any reduction in the existing wages. HOTEL REFORMS. SYDNE V Last vear the Licenses Reduction Board awarded £4.972,000 for delieensed houses. The report shows that the Labour Board had resulted in a marked improvement amongst the hotels generally. As a result of the Deputies’ trouble on the Maitland coalfields, nearly a dozen overseas and other vessels, particularly those engaged in the coal trade, are tied up in Sydney. About seven hundred seamen are idle. This is in addition to nearly ten thousand colliery employees.