AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) COMMONWEALTH STRIKES. SYDNEY. Oct. G. The annual report of the- Commonwealth Statistician discloses that during the last year there were 3GO strikes in Australia, involving 113,031 employees; there were 1,310,201 working days lost and the loss of wages amounted to £1.415.813.

SYDNEY WOOL PRICES. SYDNEY, Oct. ti

At to-day’s wool sales, the competition was particularly keen for all the better descriptions at prices equal to the best rates of the series. The demand for faulty wools was irregular, and prices at times were easier. Greasy merinos sold to 30d, which is the top price of the series.

ittd.es market. MELBOURNE. Oct. 6. At the hide sales to-day strong lights and mediums advanced by one-eighth of a penny to a farthing per lb. Other sorts were very firm.

LICENSING AMENDMENT. QUESTION of price. (Deceived this day at 8.50 a.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 7. At a meeting of Wine and Spirit Grocers’ Defence Association, serious allegations were made by the Chairman (Mr R. Roney) in connection with securing amendments to the liquor act. Tie stated that some months ago members, of whom lucre were 235, were asked to subscribe C 25 each for the purpose of establishing a fighting hind, to obtain an amendment of the liquor act, which would allow grocers to sell wine and spirits in single bottles instead of the minimum quantities ol two gallons as at present. Later, lie saw several Ministers and was told to keep quiet so as not to cause a newspaper controversy, and what they wanted would be introduced in Parliament. .Subsequently lie received an urgent message to attend Parliament House. He did so, and was shown the proposed bill, but intimated lie was not satisfied. Then the brewers, afraid that singlebottle sales would injure hotel keepers, got on the scene and when lie complained to a prominent Labour man of the treatment, the latter declared; “If somebody was getting fifty or sixty thousand sterling and you get the amended act. it would be cheap for the grocers at the price.”

Some of those present at the meeting demanded the return of the money on the ground that it was not used ns intended.

.Mr Roney, in reply to questions, said surely they did not want to be told how the money, which had been subscribed for political means, bad been spent. If the- Government had been honourable, they would have got the Act amended. He had been told this was not done, because they did not pay for it. Tf they had paid the money before the bill wont before the House, there would have been no doubt about its passing. In tact, the amendment was put up for sale, to the highest bidder. It was decided to call a lurtlicr special mooting to discuss the question.