AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

CAPTAIN’S DEATH

SYDNEY, Nov. 7. Obituary.—Captain A. ('. Showman

late captain of the steamer Niagara

HON AMERY AT CANBERRA

CANBERRA. Nov. 5.

Hon. L. C. Amery in a private address to members of the Senate and Representatives commented on the influence that had been exercised by several leading statesmen, some of whom were now dead. He also discussed the position of the Empire and expressed the view that it would be neither safe nor desirable for Britain to become more deeply involved in foreign security pacts. He emphasised tho desirability of maintaining and retaining the friendship of the United States and declared the intention of the British Government to nr.>intain British strategic points throughout the world will not in any way interfere with the autonomy of the Dominions.

Landing troops in China, said AH' Amery had no sinister motive behind it, but wars to protect British nationals. who expected the protection of their flag. It is not designed to interfere in any way with the legitimate national aspirations of the Chinese.

Air Amery dealt frankly with the position of South Africa and expressed thankfulness at the solution of difficulties there over the national flag which seemed certain to he reached. The future of South Africa was bright so long 'as disruptive influences did not wreck what had been accomplished. The interests of the policy of Britain in Turkey were also referred to but ho refrained from referring to migration or loans and avoided mi) reference to Australian jwilitics.

SYDNEY BLAZE DA At AGE.

SYDNEY, Nov. 5,

The damage hv lire which largely destroyed the extensive premises of AY. E. Smith, Printers, Bricklaiul Street, Chippendale, is estimated at fifty thousand sterling.

UNE AI PI.O YAI EN T PROBLEM

SYDNEY, Nov. 5,

Air Amcry was entertained at a State dinner at which brilliant function all Alinisters aiul other leaders were present. Air Amcry in a speech gave assurance that Britain was not seeking to solve her unemployed problem by thrusting it upon the oversea Dominions in the shape of migration. He acknowledged that for a long time Britain had been disinclined to cooperate with the Dominions ns partners, hut she had radically changed her view since the war, and now welcomed such co-operation.

Continuing, Air Amery said he thought the preference which Britain had established in various directions, in each ease had been of substantial value to some important field of production in the Empire. “In the same spirit, she is prepared to co-operate in peopling your large and yet largely empty country. Our conception of the growth of population is that your need is one where we can help without loss to ourselves. Britain’s unemployed problem is for Britain to solve. She V ill dll nothing to create unemployment in Australia. The gain we look for is, in our belief, that your prosperity is our prosperity. Our economic strength must he torn from trade which conies hack invigorated instead of being dissipated throughout the world. AYELCO.ME RAIN. SYDNEY. Nov. 7. Useful rains fell during the week-end over the greater part of the State, greatly benefiting crops and pastures. REPORTED OUTRAGE. (Received this day at 9.? D a.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 7. The police are investigating a remarkable story told by Pastor Evan Thomas, a AA’elsh evangelist and faith healer, relieving at Pentecostal Church at Richmond, who recently had been holding meetings at AA’arrngul. Thomas states three men accosted him in the main street at AA’arragul and asked him if he was a faith healer. On receiving an affirmative reply they told him that a woman was seriously ill at Nilma and requested him to see her. Thomas joined them in a ear. .lust after passing Nilma he declares lie received a heavy blow on the head and remembered no more till he recovered consciousness in a paddock. He had his clothes on then, but apparently lie again lapsed into unconsciousness for when he again became conscious lie found he had been stripped of his clothes. Another version of the story says that a passing motoring party found Thomas in a paddock stripped, blindfolded, covered with tar, his Hands bound with barbed wire, which had cut into the flesh, They brought him inn \Vn rragul.

CONSTABf-E’S DEATII

DARWIN, Nov. 7

A message from Katherine says Mounted Constable Clapp while bringing a prisoner to Katherine was ambushed nncl shot. He died in Katherine Details are meagre. Clapp had been responsible for many prosecutions at Mnrrinboy and 7t is stated a threat of violence had been made. Another report states, Clapp arrested a prisoner and took a revolver from him which he stuck in his belt and which accidentally went oil.

HON. AMERY. SYDNEY. Nov. 7

Spctiking at a citizens service remembrance in celebration cl' Armistice Pay, Hon Anierv said England had emerged from the war with a realisation of the need for encouraging migration within the Empire, and preventing'.is far as posshle her people going to foreign finds. With this end in view it had been made jx>ssiblo for returned soldiers and sailors physically tit for land settlement. 1o travel free to any part of the Dominions and under that scheme many thousands of persons had been sent and to-day the most majority of those people were among Australia's best citizens. Following that. the British Government agreed to contribute one half of the total cost of settling migrants on the land. The results had been most encouraging. Empire migration was looked upon, not altogether from the standpoint o defence, but rather from the point o view of economic needs of the conimnnitv in times of peace, for better distribution, while the population of tho Empire would enable grciitei utilisation of vast and barely touched ■resources. The Empire would achieve higher level of prosperity among the people. England was suffering from •many' jevills that ‘arose from overcrowding. Vick of sunshine, fresh air and a wide horizon, white Australia suffered in many ways through under population.” It has never been our object, said Air A.nery “simply to get rid of our own domestic social problems by pushing our surplus population out of the country,”