AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

WELCOME RAIN. SYDNEY, Nov. 25

Good soaking rains are falling practically in all parts ol the State, and will immensely benefit the growing crops and feed which in many districts was becoming .scarce.

TAB lEE REBATES. CANBERRA. Nov. 25,

In tlie House of Representatives in replv to questions as to the comparative values of the preferential policy to British and Australian industries the .Minister of Customs saiil during five years ended .Lined 1920. tariff rebates totalling £36.470.000 were granted on goods imported from Britain. The latest British figures available were for 1925. These showed in that year British rebates on Australian goods amounted to £571,442.

N.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY, Nov. 25

The Assembly read a first time a Bill to amend the Family Endowment Act. The Bill provides for the discontinuance for a, certain period of payments (by employers to the family Endowment Fund, as sufficient money has already been collected to finance the endowment until the end of the present financial year. The Bill also provides for the removal of Treble from the Commissionership of family endowment.

PICTURE OBJECTED TO. MELBOURNE, Nov. 25

There were notions scenes at a motion picture theatre at Brunswick. A crowd of several hundred who objected to the screening of a picture, “The Callahans and The Murphys,” stating it was offensive and objectionnl to a large section of the community. bombarded the theatre with stones and attempted to storm the building. Mounted police were summoned and after a struggle dispersed the rioters.

FEDERAL TARIFF. CANBERRA, Nov. 25

Mr Prntten. introducing the new tariffs, said alterations in the items and sub-items numbered 135. Of these 21 dealt with reductions in duty, in many eases on popular and revenueproducing items. The number of duties which increased in both British and foreign schedule was 23. Ihe numhei of foreign duties in which increases were made without increasing the corresponding British rate was 20. len alterations were proposed for the rectification of anomalies and in addition there were 53 alterations giving increased preference to the United Ivingdom. The total proposed alterations in that direction increased British preference. It was estimated these would lie of ultimate value to the British trade of nearly one and a-liall millions sterling and would increase the total preference given to the United Kingdom to more than ten millions sterling annually. Once the tariff was in effective operation there would be no need for an increase in revenue nor any further tax on Hie community as a whole. Further help given to Australian factories by the alterations would capture £3,000,000 worth of present British trade and £3,000.000 worth of foreign trade. Britain by virtue of increased preference should also be able to capture half of the remaining foreign trade in items affected, so that the nett gain to the Empire trade expected to be brought about by the proposals was approximately eleven million sterling, of which Australia’s share won be six million and Britain’s nearly five millions. This estimate was based on the fact that foreign trade in tlie items in question now totalled eighteen millions sterling annually. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. PALMERSTON N., Nov. 25.

Charged at the Police Court with indecently 'assaulting a (hoy aged i, Charles AVilmot Palmer, employed as a cook hy a Fielding hotel pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. SOLDIER SETTLEMENT LOSS. SYDNEY. Nov. 25. The annual report of the AuditorGeneral states that from July 1915 to Juno 1927 Murrumbridgee irrigation area and soldier settlement has shown a loss of £3,259,009. LABOR DIFFERENCES. MELBOURNE, Nov. 25.

The Executive of Australian and New Zealand Council of Trades Unions resolved to intervene in the over-time strike and requests the management committees of the AA atorside AA orkors Federation to meet representatives of the Council in Conference. Although the proceedings were in camera, it is learned that strong exception was taken hy some representatives to the action of the watersiders in jeopardising industry at a time ttfien so many workers were unable to find employment. The view is expressed tliat should the strike he permitted to extend. many members of other unions will become automatically involved, with a consequent loss of employment. Objection is also taken to direct action methods of the watersiders. who put the strike into operation without first consulting other organisations which were likely to he affected. Tt is anticipated the watersiders will resent the action of Council in intervening in the dispute and refuse to grant a conference, but it is believed the Council will be called upon to discipline the AVa torsi decs’ Federation with the object of protecting the interest of other water front unions. An official statement has been given out of the views of watersiders’ claims that the dispute originated in vexatious delays of the Arbitration Court in hearing the Union’s plaint, together with studied hostility of employers in every attempt that had been made* in the last two ears, in both Court and Federation to reach an agreement in keeping with the industry. It concludes that right from the commencement the Federation earnestly desired to effect an agreement. STRIKE EXTENDS. BRISBANE. Nov. 25. Acting on instructions from the General Management Committee, the Queensland AVnterside AA’orkcrs’ decided to fall into line with other ports of the Commonwealth and refuse to work overtime. It is understood the Committee of Management threatened to make Port Brisbane black, unless Qeueenslnnd AA atersiders’ joined the strikers. So far only one or two vessels have been delayed at Brisbane.