AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. SEVERE DROUGHT. SYDNEY, Sept. 14. Owing to a severe drought in the Riverina district it is estimated that 100,000 sheep will be transported across the border to Victoria within a month. Already a great exodus has begun, 25,000 sheep being on the move, one owner alone moving 17,000. Pastoralists have already lost, heavily in the Northern Riverina, where less than 4 inches of rain has fallen this season. NEWSPAPER STRIKE. PERTH, Sept. 14. Another member of the staff of the newspaper “West Australia” was arrested for refusing to pay a fine, and as the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association declined to give an assurance there will he no more arrests, the men have declined to work and said they will he no publication of the pa tier. The Proprietors’ Association then decided to issue a composite paper under the title of tlie “Daily News” and “West Australian” which was done. This will be continued till the job control is defeated.

WIRELESS REPORT. SYDNEY, Sept. U. Tlie Wireless Commission’s report does not recommend Government ownership or management of broad-casting conditional upon Amalgamated Wireless agreeing to certain specified contions. Failing compliance, it "recommends the Commonwealth to acquire shares privately held in the company, that prior to acquisition of such shares, the company should take steps to obtain a decision on tlie validitiy of patents. Proposals aro made for a reduction in patent and right charges, and for the benefit to go to listeners in, in tlie shape' of reduced license fees. It recommends Government to appoint a wireless committee consisting of the Director of Postal Services as Chairman, and other two members with a special knowledge of wireless to deal with wireless problems generally throughout the Commonwealth. This the Commission regarded as necessary owing to the increase in volume of wireless communication and broadcasting. Another recommendation is tho alteration of wave lengths. Regarding beam wireless the Commission says serious differences have arisen between tho Federal Post Office and Directors of Beam regarding payment of terminal and other charges. The Commission recommends the Company pay terminal charges, failing which the Government are urged to take control of the beam service. It further recommended that for tlie protection of the interests of newspapers in news, a broadcasting station shall not transmit news from, any newspaper without consent in writing of the proprietors of the newspaper, and upon payment of fees fixed for the use of such service.

N.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY, Sept. 14. The Leader of the Country Party delivered a policy speech. He declared the party wore anxious to assist in sound progressive Government. They had made a pact with the Nationalist Party to oust a Government that had lost all sense of political decency and fair play. He outlined various schemes which the party supported for fostering irrigation, land settlement water consovation and decentralisation, and for generally developing the country’s inttercsts Parliamentary reform to include reduction of Legislative Council membership to sixty-four on an elective basis, for a term not to exceed twelvo years, such change to follow a referendum of the people; also Family Endowment, hut to apply through out tho Commonwealth and elimination of rural, industries from the Arbitration Court until Federal Awards are brought into action.

WOOL SALES. SYDNEY, Sept. 15. At the wool sales competition was keen and active on level values. All fleece lines, 'and skirtings were firmly maintained. Prices generally were firm at late rates and good clearances were effected. Greasy merino sold to 29 J ,d. N.S.W. NOMTNATIOXS. (Deceived this day at 8 a.in.) SYDNEY. Sept. 15. Nominations for the State election closed to-day with a total’ of 220 candidates (including four women) for ninety seats, tho candidates comprising Nationalists, Labour, Independent Nationalists, Country Party, Independent Country Party, Independent , Labour, Protestant Labour, and Independents. In many cases the party vote will bo split, as there are numbers of candidates who failed to secure party selection contesting seats - as either Independent Nationalists or Independent Labourites.