AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—-Per Press Association.) ELECTION NOMINATTONS. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 15. Nominations for the forthcoming elections include eighty-three Labour, sixty-eight Nationalists, sixteen Country Party and various Independents. Only one seat is uncontested in fiftyfour electorates. There will be a straight out contest in the other thirty-five seats. Preferential voting will be taken. NEWSPAPER STRIKE. PERTH, Sept. 15. The strike at the West Australian newspapers office continues and shows signs of spreading. Copies of the composite paper are being circulated throughout the city and suburbs.

At a mass meeting of the union it was agreed the strike was no longer the concern of the AA'est Australian chapel, but would henceforth he the concern of the union which would support the chapel in its decision not to work while any of-its members were in gaol. The Registrar lias been instructed by tbe Arbitration Court to take proceedings to determine whether the men are again on strike. Should the charge be proved they are liable to another fine or imprisonment. SHEARERS AWARD. MELBOURNE. Sept. 15.

In the Federal Arbitration Conrt, Chief Justice Dethridge delivered the new shearers award which generally provides slight increases on last year’s wages award, which then fixed tbe rate at 40s per hundred sheep. The employers asked a reduction to 35s and employees for an increase to 60s. Corresponding reduction and increases were claimed in respect of all other shearing workers. The following rates were fixed: 41s per hundred for flock sheep; for rams 425; stud ewes and llambs 51s 3d. These rates to apply to all States except West Australia where the rate for flock sheep will he 40s, other classes corresponding rates.. For shed hands £4 2s weekly with keep; £5 12s without keep. Boys £2 12 Od with keep, £4 Is 6<l without keep. Cooks 8s per man per week for every man cooked for. If insufficient shearers to cater for to bring the rate to £4 12s 6d the employer makes up the difference. Included in the award is a Clause granting station hands a fortnight’s holiday for every completed year’s of service subject to the employers undertaking to return to the employers service at the end of t le holiday.