AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1927, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

bridging of rivers. REVIVAL OF TOLLS. SYDNEY, July 22. The old system of tolls, while it may suggest an -andironism in the present year of grace, is experiencing what is regarded by motorists as a welcome revival in New South Wales', for it means the gradual abolition of punts, which are responsible or more had language by road users than anything olse. and the erection of bridges. Of motorists who have lieen on a. visit to Sydney, there are few who do not remember tlie old punt, at the Spit, on the road to Manly, and the miles and miles of traffic held up there until cars could ho conveyed across the water. To-day there is a bridge at that spot, one of ugliest bridges in the World, admittedly, blit it has come as a blessing to traffic. The toll system there, without fresh taxation, has enabled the local Council io bridge the water. The next- big bridge to be provided by the toll system will he the structure at Tom I gly’s, to allow travelling public decent means of cess to the far-famed South Coast, instead of having to wait long hours, as at present, for the punt during the holidays and other heavy traffic. These who know something of tho troubles of crossing punts in New South Wales are delighted to pay bridge tolls. The Sydney Harbour bridge will not- be on the toll system. There is the anomalous position to-day, in the case of that essentially national structure, and a big tax which hits only the city and the North Shore. The protests of those who have been singled out for this slug will be even more pronounced when the full operation of the bridge .serves to emphasise its broad national usefulness.

SYDNEY’S URIAH TOLL. SYDNEY. July 22. The fact that the traffic problems of Sydney are very real, and are attended with ever-increasing danger, is revealed by the death or injury last year of one person in every 220 of tho city’s population as a result of street accidents. The greatest number of accidents was attributed to motor-ears which killed 68 people and injured 30,5. This somewhat grim record is net surprising, in view of the fact that, of the 100,000 motor-cars in use in the State last year, the great majority were registered in tho metropolitan traffic district. Lorries, vans, 'and lire engines were responsible for 30 deaths aud -188 injuries; motor-cycles, 25 deaths and G6l injuries; motorbuses. IS deaths and 2-1-1 injuries; and trams, 11 deaths and 303 injuries. The inclination, nearly always, on ail emotional wave of indignation and sympathy is to blame the drivers of vehicles for accidents. That- they are not always to blame is obvious to anyone who knows Sydney, and realises the risks which people often run. Tho spectacle of people, not all of them irresponsible children by any means, jumping on and off trams while in motion in a .sea of traffic, is quite common. Women as well as men indulge in tliis practice, and the miracle is that more are not injured. Unless the .authorities awake from their laissez faire attitude, and tackle along bold co-ordinated lines Sydney's traffic problems tho grim toll of accidents in the streets will grow even out of proportion to the increase in population.

AIT. MORGAN MINE. MELBOURNE, July 29. An extraordinary general meeting here of shareholders of the MounH,' -Morgan Gold Alining Coy, Ltd., who hold one million ill shares, decided to-L day that the Mount Morgan Gold and Copper Aline be shut down permanently. All the assets are to be soi'd, and the Company wound up. Tlie meeting was convened to consider the future of the Company, particularly in view of the position arising out of the adverse reports .of the American mining experts, who had advised against the practicability of winning the remaining ore reserves by “ open cut ” methods.

In a long speech, reviewing the difficulties of conducting the operations in recent years, tlie Chairman, AH Hall, said he felt certain that every Australian shared the view of the directors that it was a national industrial disaster to he compelled to abandon these mines with their eight million tons of known ore. and from fifteen million sterling to sixteen million sterling worth of metals in them.

Afr Niall said it had not been possible to recoup the costs of mining and treatment from tlie metal values in the ores, as the value of copper in the world’s markets had been persistently low. It had been beyond the company’s capacity to effect any corresponding reduction in costs at Alt. Morgan. The fact had to he faced that the mining and labour conditions were such that the recovery of the fifteen millions sterling worth of ore remaining the mine was no longer possible on an economic basis, and only for the company’s investments the mine would long since have gone out of existence.