AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1927, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

BEAM SERVICE. SYDNEY, Aug. 1(1

The newspaper “Sun.” commenting on the beam service, declares: “It is not treating the public fairly 'by silence. Tt is leading patrons to believe that it is handling all the traffic entrusted to it. The fact, however, is that it fades out many hours daily and that a great many of its messages have to be transferred to tbe Eastern or Pacific Cables. The cable companies accept this traffic" only at tlieir customary rates, and the beam has to pay out of its own resources to meet this difference between the beam and cable charges, rather than disclose the truth; and this shortage has to he borne ?oy the Federal taxpayer. This indirectly touches the pocket of every taxpayer. What, however, is of more moment, is that the beam has happy-go-lucky habits which are fraught with most dangerous consequences to the commercial community. The messages sent from Hondo’’ do not always reach Australia, but the charge is automatically made for them all the same.” The “Sun” adds: “Beam wireless is supposed to he a public utility, rendering public service. This should mean candour, even though some declension of revenue might temporarily result.” MELBOURNE. Aug. Id. ATr Brown. Director of Postal Serices. interviewed regarding the London cable dealing with disabilities of the beam system, said the fading must always be taken into account. As far as the Commonwealth Government was concerned, the .beam was fulfilling its agreement. It was handling the traffic the Commonwealth Government gave.it with the exception of a little which it sent over the cables at night.

ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE. SYDNEY. Aug. 16. The City witnessed . an amazing scene at lunch hour, when two thousand engineers, in columns of fours, marched to the Industrial Arbitration Court, where twenty-one of their comrades had to appear to answer summonses issued under the new Award which provides for daily hiring. At a stop work meeting, all the engineers working under the Federal Award decided to absent themselves from work for the afternoon, and to march from the Trades Hall to the Arbitration Court. Addressing a mass meeting in the Trades Hall, prior to the procession, the Federal Secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering Union said the Union completely disapproved of any demonstration, but ho was overruled, and the men took matters in their own hands.

The Court was guarded hy police, but the demonstrators were very t|niot and orderly.

When the cases were called counsel explained that each of the twenty-one men was called upon to show cause why a fine of £IOO, or three months’ gaol, should not he imposed, for failure to obey the Court order to return to work.

The Court adjourned to-morrow, to enable the parties a further opportunity to confer, with a view to a settlement of the dispute.