AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) DIRECTORS DIFFER. SYDNEY, July l. The report of the Australian Provincial Assurance Association for the year 192 G, copies of which reach New Zealand to-morrow referring to disagreements which occurred on the Board of Directors during the year says the difference arose between Chairman Higgins and co-ilirectors relative, to many matters of management and policy culminating in open disngrement upon the question of a proposed merger scheme with several other life companies. His resignation followed upon an extraordinary meeting of shareholders refusing to approve of the administration of the Company. The report refers to need for adjustment of certain accounts on taking over the Life Insurance Company of Australia and alleged unwarranted inflation of the Company’s profits and assets through the inclusion on an assured dividend front the Life Insurance Company which was paid on dividend by the directors and that the amount paid for the co-operative assurance company was out of all proportion to the value of the business obtained, even at the time of purchase, while on the past year’s figure the purchase may lie regarded as unsound financially.

POLICE ON TRIAL. PERTH. July 4

- ConstaMos Regan and St. Jack worn remanded on tlie charges ot wilfully murdering an aboriginal at l)ala, East Kimberley, as tabled on Ibe 2nd of J UPC. i,a Horn Avon Li). SYDNEY, July I. Serious dissatisfaction lias been caused in the Engineering and -Metal Trades Unions by Judge Beeby’s award, including a piecework clause. T3ie members state that they will not have piecework under any consideration.

The indications are that a big industrial upheaval is pending, il the Court’s decision lor the legalising ol piecework is enforced.

REFERENCE TO PACIFIC FLIGHT .MELBOURNE. July 1. Referring to the cable messages received in connection with the proposed Pacific flight. Colonel White, President of the Aero C'luh, said: “ Unless Australian bestirs herself, the Americans will capture all the flying records in and around our waters. 1 sincerely hope that sufficient funds will he subscribed by the public to enable Australian to capture one record, namely that of a (light to New Zealand.”

RAILWAY FINANCE. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) . .MELBOURNE, July 5. As a result chiefly of increased tares and freights which became operative last year, the earnings of Victorian railways for the year just ended amounted to £1:1,302,000 sterling, an increase of £975,0i1) over the previous year and a record. Despite this increase, a deficit of fifty thousand is expected on the year’s operations, similar deficit is expected from the tramways.

COTTON SEED FIRE. BRISBANE, July 5. A fire in a cotton ginnery at Rockhampton destroyed a storage shed containing three million p uiuls of seed valued at £15,00!) sterling and two "hundred bales of lint worth £SOOO. The seed destroyed represented the bulk of the supply for next year’s crop. SEAMEN’S TROUBLE. BRISBANE, July 5. Following a logging the crew ol a vessel refused duty in sympathy with waterside workers who had been on strike at Cairns for a considerable time. The trouble threatens to extend to other ports. Five steamers are at present berthed at Cairns and the seamen threaten to keep them there unless the loggings are removed. The Acting-Premier of Queensland intervened but it is anticipated bis efforts to settle the dispute will tlie abortive. DEATH AT 101. SYDNEY, July 5. Obituary—Reverend Septimus Hungerford, aged 101 years, lie is one of Australia’s early settlers. He arrived in the colony at a very early age. PONY SOLD. SYDNEY, July 5. The New Zealand racehorse Breezy has been sold and will do future racing on pony ponses. The price is not stated. WIRELESS LICENSES. MELBOURNE, July 5. During the year ended 30th June the number of wireless licenses in the Commonwealth increased by 97.079. making a total of 215,139. equal to ono license to every thirty people." Victoria heads the list with 118,965 licenses.