AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

TAHITI-GREYCLIFFE INQUIRY. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 15. Captain F. Joliffe has been appointed by the Commonwealth Navigation Department, as assessor in the TaliitiGreycliffe collision inquiry, in place of Captain Howell. TOTALISATOR IN VICTORIA. AIELLO UR NIC, Nov. 15. The State Cabinet has prepared a hill providing for the installation of a totalisator on principal race courses in the metropolitan area. . It is understood provision has been made for the allottment of seven per cent profits t the Government and 5} per tent to the race clubs. An addendum to the bill states women will not be permitted to bet on tin* totalisator. DOCTOR TILLYARD. CANBERRA, Nov." 15. Senator McLaughlin announced that arrangements have boon made by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to supply Doctor Tillyard] with a huge number of caterpillars of the moth monioeosomn, a natural enemy of ragwort, for testing on council plants at the C’awthorn Institute. Preliminary investigations carried out by the council’s entomologist demonstrated convincingly that these insects are capable of destroying ragwort plants in a week or so. Should the starvation tests prove satisfactory, it is expected these caterpillars will assist materially in bringing the weed unde control in New Zealand, and possibly in Tasmania, where several districts are infected. INQUEST VERDICT. PERTH, Nov. 15. At the inquest on the death of Constance Lupp, the Coroner found that she shot herself while under severe mental strain.

ARBITRATION LAW.

ATTACK ON SYSTEM. PERTH. Nov. 15. William Brooks in his presidential address to the Central Council of the Employers’ Federation, made a strong attack on the existing arbitration and industrial systems, lie said lie beard wearisome repetitions from politicians anil academic theorists in favour of the get-together policy, whilst the inevitable result of our east-iron law court industrial system is to further widen the breach between employers and employees and entrust the fortunes of our national industrial prosperity and development to the whim of judicial authorities, whose unimpeachable integrity is more than counter-balanced by the vagaries of their sentimental and impractical determination. Employers arc not averse to getting together but realise that round-the-table conferences are practically futile with the present background of wig and gown power and finality. Both Queenslanihand New South Wales industrial movements are almost entirely in tlull:! mis of Communists. The menace ol centralised union domination, if unchecked, would exercise a stranglehold on Australian industry development and private enterprise. lie reviewed the harmful effect of union tactics and suggested the remedy is the transference to the Federal Court of full industrial control, thus securing uniformity; and the substitution of conciliation for arbitration and complete organisation of employers in order that tney might negotiate with employees’ organisations on an equal footing; and a reduction n'l Federal and State taxation directly affecting primary and secondary industries. He urged the need for complete freedom in negotiations between capital and labour.

SO LO AI (>X IS t, AN DER S. SYDNEY. Nov. 15.

According to the statements of those altoard the supply ship Biloela. the natives, who were responsible for the recent massacre in the .Solomon Islands, have not the remotest chance of escaping justice as they are hemmed in by hostile tribes, and bail only a comparatively small area m which to operate. Punitive parties were systematically destroying the cultivated vegetables, and Chief Bassiano would eventually be forced bv starvation to submit. The number ol natives under Bassiano is estimated at between fifty and a hundred. They are expected to fight desperately before capitulating. Sufficient stores to last two weeks have been placed aboard the cruiser Adelaide.

STORM LX N.S.AY. SYDNEY, Nov. 15. A severe storm, accompanied by heavy rain, passed over the northern portion of the State, causing considerable damage. Several places at Casino and the municipal power bouse were half wrecked, portion of the roof being lmrleil fifty yards into a gully. At Grafton, houses were unroofed and trees blown down. :At Mac-Lean damage was done to shops and houses. Storms are also reported at Singleton and Tonterfield. THE ADELAIDE'S CREAV. CANBERRA, Nov. 15. ,Al.r Bruce states the men on the cruiser Adelaide were still acting as a guard to the ’base camp and were not engaged chasing natives among tho hills.