AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

J Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

SOUTH AUSTRALIA ELECTIONS ADELAIDE, Alanli 29..

The latest election returns show Liberal-Country Party 28, Labour 10, Independent 2. it is expected that the two Tatter will support. Labour. There arc now onlv two seats doubtful.

LABOUR AFFAIRS. .MELBOURNE. .March 29. There i .: newly-formed Amalgamation (,: lie Road Transport Unions, They Ia " served the employers through ■■■; Australia with a new log, (laimiiie minimum wage of L'(! for a forty-eight hours week for drivers ot every class of commercial vehicle, both mechanical and horse-drawn. MELBOURNE. March 29. At a special' meeting, the Seamen’s Union decided to nay all the dues owing t-i the A’ietorian Branch of the Australian Labour Party, and to affiliate with that body again. It was also resolved to withdraw affiliation n ith the Trades Hall Council. PROPERTY VALUES. . MELBOURNE, Alareh 29. City Council statistics show evidence of the remarkable growth of Melbourne from 1843. the dale of it- incorporation. 11l that year the annual assessment was £0(5.847. compared with £4,413.081 in 192(5. Since 191.5 the assessed annual value of the city properly lias more than doubled. 1 CANBERRA STRIKE. .SYDNEY. .March 29. The strike at Canberra, cabled on February 'Jfitli, has been settled. The men are resuming work immediately. AUSTRALIAN DUTY SOUGHT. MELBOURNE, March 29.

The Federal Tariff Hoard has commenced hearing an application !>v the Australian Dairy Council for an increase in the duly on imported flutter and eiieo.se up to sixpence per pound. Illustrating the inroads into the Australian industry that imported dairy goads were making. Air Rankin (Chairman of the Dairy Council Board) said that the butter imports from New Zealand had risen from 329 lons in the year 1921-22 to 1330 tons in the year 192(5.

NEW GUINEA RUSH. SYDNEY. March 29. A well-known prospector, who lias spent eight months in working on the Edie Creek Goldfield, in New Guinea, says the alluvial workings there are now practically worked out. and the way is being cleared tor the systematic working of the field oil a logger scale. The conditions for mining have become favourable. The New Guinea Administration has taken firm control, and the early defects have been overcome.

This lie Id. he says, must eventually ho carried on by dredging anr sinning companies, and by reef mining. So far. there inis been no prospecting loi reefs, the activities having been centred on tbe alluvial deposits. QUAKE WARNING. SYDNEY. Alartli 29. Prolesor Bailey Wilis, of Stanford University, California, arrived here by the Ulimaroa to-day Irom New Zealand. He sounded a note oi warning to New Zealanders. ' The Professor said that the scientists and officials in New Zealand were alert to the earthquake danger, and they are now inclined to take measures against a future disaster. Ihe pubi'ie there, however, are indifferent, and tli ■ : rrhileets and engineers are generally cureless. He concluded by saying that (ills is to lie deplored, m view of the certainty of future shocks like that of 18.5.5 in the Dominion. MINING TROUBLE. SYDNEY. March 30. A conference of representatives of coal owners and employees engaged in the coal mining industry was called tor to-da.v to discuss the dispute oil the Maitland Field. A conference of dr'feTati’s from various miiK.T*’ tion.s proposals were agreed to as a basis of settlement. These will lie submitted to to-day’s conference, which wii'l lie presided over liv the ActingMinister of Mines. Mr Lsv.yarini. The miners are sanguine that a settlement will lie reached. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN VOTING ADELAIDE. March 30. Later election returns show that Labour lias gained a seat at the expense of the Liberals, giving Labour seventeen seats. Premier Hill tenders his resignation next Wednesday. In tlic Legislative Council the return of all oi'd members is assured.

MELBOURNE. Alareh 30.

Giving evidence in an engineering case in the Arbitration Court. It. Marshall Kady said the employers considered oversea competition would seriously affect a majority of lines which they manufactured, unless the loss of hours of work was compensated for. til some cases, English m.aiiulactui ei s could land their products at, about fourteen per cent lower limn the local manufacturing cost. The ad valorem tariff was thirty-five per cent Lv adding freight, insurance, exchange, the measure of protection was liroug.it to fifty-nine and a half per cent. Wages oversea were also lower. In Halifax, wages were £2 14s per ween of -17 hours; in Melb niriie they were £5 12s 6d. plus 4s Od to cover holidays and sick pav. 11 ms wages in Halifax were 13.79 pence per hour against 30.2 in Melbourne) representing a difference of VI4 per cent. Lower material costs in England as against Australia represented a dillei'enee ol nil.' per cenl making a total ol 16! V 1 cent against Australian manufacturers.

WESTRALIAN FT-F.CT 10 N FTO CREL PERTH. -March 39. Latest election figures give Labour 24 seats, United Party 13, Country Party 7. doubtful 2. Four elections are yet to be held. SYDNEY. March 30. Windbag has resumed serious training and beat Reonui over seven furlongs on the tan in 1.29.1. Ho pulled up well. M