AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(lly Telegraph —Per Press Association.) All? PIDDINGTON VINDICATED. SYDNEY, Oct. 5. In linding Mr Piddington K.C., the N s AV. Industrial Commissioner, had hop,I ill no way influenced either by the Government or by political considerations in bis basic wage declarati,„i the Commission of Inquiry added i„ i’ts report the following remarks: “There- was nothing m the Sydney Atorning Herald article, or the statements of Mr Allen, of the Graziers Association. that could lie taken by any reasonable minded man to reflect upon the personal rectitude of Mr Piddington, and full consideration of them has satisfied the Commission beyond all reasonable doubt, that Air Piddington is not only an able, but an upright judge when discharging judicial duties, and an able and upright officer of the Crown when discharging the duties of a legislative or administrative character.” It concluded : ‘‘Nothing was elicited in the course of the enquiry’, which could in any sense he taken as a reflection upon his integrity.”

TROUBLE IN SOLOMONS. SYDNEY, Oct. 10. Following request by the British Government, the Commonwealth Government to-day decided to despatch the cruiser Adelaide to the Solomon Islands, for the protection of British residents there, as it is feared that a native uprising may extend the Commissioner of Police. FED HR AL POPULATION. SYDNEY, Oet. 11. According to tlie figures prepared by the Commonwealth Statistician the population of the Commonwealth on June 30th last, was 6,167,529, an increase during the year of 123,605, of which the excess of births over deaths accounted for 75,442. New South Wales heads the list of the States with 2,370,623.

MELBOURNE’S LORD MAYOR. MELBOURNE, Oct. 11. Sir Stephen Morell was elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne for a second term.