AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

; Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] DAMAGES CLAIM. SYDNEY. March 28. The action has commenced in which Aicoh Johnson, oi the Australian Seamen’s Union, is claiming twenty thousand sterling damages from the Commonwealth Government, the Prime Minister (Air Bruce) and the ActingSuperintendent of the Ecderal Police Force for his alleged wrongful arrest and false imprisonment, arising out_of the deportation proceedings in 1925. SYDNEY. -March 28. By direction ol the Judge, the jnrv awarded Mr .Johnson £2O damages, as the defendants admitted his arrest and detention were wronglul. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ELECTION. ADELAIDE. March 28. The latest elections returns show;— Liberals —22. Country Party—s. Labour Party—l 7. Independent—2. Mi- Butler, the Leader of the present Liberal Opposition, will lie the now Prime Minister of Smith Australia.

MINING TROUBLE. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 29. A conference between representatives of the Miners’ Federation and Deputies Organisation concerning tlio dispute at Alnitlaiid Coalfields failed to reach an agreement. A meeting of men to-day will nut before the ActingMinister of Alines (Mr Lazzarini) some proposals for a .settlement. LICENSES TO CONTINUE. ADELAIDE, Alarcli 29. In the local option polls votes for continuance of tljc present number of licenses predominate in every district. The position in some electorates the General Election is very close hut the Government are definitely defeated, ft. is nrobable that Pact parties will gain additional seats. AYESTR-ALIAN POLITICS. PERTH, Alarcli 59.

The fate of the Government will remain undecided till fttli. April, when an election for four north-west seats will he held. At present each party hold two of them. JURY’S MUDDLE. SYDNEY. Alarcli 29. There was a peculiar feature o! Jacob Johnson’s claim against the Federal Government. The jury came into court with a- verdict lor defendants. The Judge pointed out that Johnson’s arrest was admittedly illegal and the. jury's task was simply to determine the amount of damages to which plaintiff was entitled. Counsel for plaintiff asked that this verdict ne recorded, hut the Judge declined. The jury after a second retirement assessed Johnson’s damages at C2O. ELECTION POSITI ONS. PERTH. Alarcli 29. The i'atest election returns still leave the result in the balance. If the Government can hold two of the four doubtful seats, which it expects to do, it will have a narrow majority. ADELAIDE, Alarcli 29. As the election position now stands, the Government has lost nine sente that it previously held.