AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

VICTORIAN RAILWAY LOSSES. MELBOURNE, Sept. 8. 1 lie annual report of the Railway Commissioners, tabled in the Assembly, shows the operations lor the year ended .lime .30th resulted in a deficit of Ibe Curnniissioners attributed lb* deficit to the r< fnsal of the Allan-Pea-coek Ministry to approve of a recommendation to increase fares and freights. the- deficit does not in: hide :li • allowance lor making good accrued or accruing loss to the value 1 f property by th” extension of the suburban lines, and i -diiction of freights on certain classified goods, which would have made a total deficit for the year of

LAW, OB DISORDER WHICH? (Received this day at 11.0 a rn.) AIELBOI RNE, Sept. 8. Mr Bruce (Federal Prime Minister), referring to the. Queensland trouble, said: The dispute was the exemplification of an unrest who h permeated the world since the war. It was an unrest against which public opinion must be finely mobilised. If permitted to continue. it won I’d mean the destruction of f "iistiiutionsl government and the lowering of the standard of living.

On one side wa, ranged a constitution:-! government, representing the Labour Party and on the other side was ranged a large organisation of Lab uir controlled by a few extremists. If the extremists were successful in undermining the constitutional government and imposing their will upon the people, it would be a tragedy and must eventually mean the death of the! Trade Union movement. I

The lenders of the Queensland Railway slriku were leading nothing i’ess than a revolt. Tlieir action was calculated to destroy Commonwealth property and destroy a standard of living which was built up by long effort through many years. It is essential Hint ’those I’cw extremists should ho faced by united public opinion. Something must be done to curb the extremists, the majority of whom are foreigners. OBITUARY. SYDNEY Sept. 8. Obituary.—Rev. A. Thorn Anderson, a former .Moderator of the Presbyterian Genera! Assembly of New South Wares. STRIKE TROUBLES. SYDNEY. Sept. 8. The dispute involving employees on the harbour bridge is settled. The limn hnvc resumed v.orl:. The strike at Hoskins iron and steel works it still unsettled and the linn’s east iron pipe works are closed as supplies were exhausted and 120 men were

'Hie Minister ol Labour and Industry Ins suggested tln- parties concerned should allow the Industrial Commissioner (Mr t’iddingtoi') to adjudicate on matters in dispute, and abide by l.'is decision. DROUGHT CONDITIONS. SYDNEY. Kept. 8. Uir Graham AVnddell, ['resident of flu- Graziers Association of New South Web's, after n tour through the drought-stricken areas of Queensland, said lie had come to the conclusion that Australia, as far as transport facilities were (unreined. was in no better position to-day to fight a drought than it was 50 years ago. Ic was depressing to see hundreds of miles of such line sheep country temporarily abandoned. Where flocks were kept together, hand feeding had to he resorted to, but tho cost was exceedingly heavy. It is impossible to estimate the drought losses, but the accepted estimate of 7.(100,000 sheep was certainly not excessive.

TILE STRIKE POSITION. BRISBANE. Sept. 8. Another mass meeting, preceded by a procession through the streets occurred in the city. This has been arranged as a daily demonstration to keep up the spirits of idle employees. Yesterday was the railwayman's fortnightly pay day, but as no staff were available to carry out the work, the men will remain without, the money owing to them for the time being. Steamers are leaving Brisbane heavily laden with passengers, cargo and mails. In some places mails are being despatched l>y private cars, travelling between towns. Some industries are beginning to feel the pineli of the stoppage. The Tnkermnn sugar mill will he compelled to close down a few days’ hence, owing to storage congestion. About five hundred men, including farm hands and cane cutters will b.thrown idle. This is the height of the season and it is feared the losses will he severe, as the cane will have to remain in tlio fields instead of being harvested.

Pastoralists who are hand-feeding sheep are in an anxious position as the available supplies soon will be used up. AVOOL SALES. SYDNEY, Sept. 8. At the wool sales there was strong general competition, with a distinctly hardening tendency noticeable for liner descriptions and free Alcriuo wools whilst all other descriptions were in strong request at full rates. Greasv Alcriuo sold to 28! pence.