AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) STEWARDS DISMISSED. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). SYDNEY, Dee. 29. The Hoard of Control of the Commonwealth Line has decided to dismiss tho stewards on the steamer Mo re ton Bay who refused to serve luncheon to the Governor-General and other guests at the Balmain Regatta on Monday, as a punishment for the breach of discipline. On behalf of the men it was pointed out that they had just arrived from a Home port, after a four months’ voyage, and were entitled to time off.

'l ne men’s action in some quarters is attributed to the influence of a, party of Russians who travelled by the steamer from London and from whom the Customs authorities made a haul of Bolshevik propaganda at Fremantle.

NEW THEATRES. SYDNEY. Dec. 29. Three new theatres are being erected in Sydney costing, with attached office blocks for letting, L 1.000,000. SEAMEN’S DISCIPLINE. .MELBOURNE. Dec-. 29. Illustrating the stern discipline exercised hy the Seamen’s Union over its members, a ho’suli ol one ol the ( ommonwealth steamers was charged at a meeting with carrying tales about certain happenings ill the forecastle to the mate. The bo’suil offered an explanation hut the meeting adjudged him guilty and ordered him to give twenty-four hours’ notice of his intention to leave the vessel ; also not to sec-k re-employmelit in the Commonwealth Line for twelve mouths. It is understodo the bo’sun will undertake to carry out the dictates of the c niori.

MURDER CHARGE. (Received this clay at 10. IS a.m.A SYDNEY, Dec. 29. A quarrel between two unemployed seamen in a disused coal trimmer’s hut at Newcastle ended in the fatal stabbing of William Patrick Sullivan. Immedi’ately after the affray the. opponent rushed out and disappeared. Later Frank Edwards gave, himself up to the police. He has been charged with murder. BOWLERS KILLED. ADELAIDE, Dec. 29. Two members of tho Sturt Bowling Club were killed when a motor car carrying a howling team on tour collided with a rail motor at a level cross mg. Three others were injured.

A SERIOUS FIRE. BRISBANE, Dec. 29. A lire at Gordonvnl, near Cairns, destroyed several buildings, including the Commercial Hotel, the guests of which barely escaped in their night attire. The damage is estimated at £30,000 RIFLE SHOOTING. HOBART. Dec. 29. At the Rifle Shooting, the Tasmanian King's Prize was won hy E. Lentham with 202 points. AEROPLANE FOR CLERGYMAN. SYDNEY. Dec. 29. The Anglican Church is pressing an aeroplane into service to overcome the difficulties of travel that Ministers experience in the outback districts. Revd. Daniels, of Wnlcnnia. whose districts covers about 40.000 square miles has imported a Do Haviland Moth machine costing £BOO, from England with which he intends to do visitation work in his wide district, thereby overcoming the present long, slow, dangerous, time wasting journeys hv buggy and ear. Rev. Daniels held a commission in the Royal Air Force during the war. HEALTH MINISTER'S CAMPAIGN. SYDNEY, Dec. 15. In trying to empty the hospitals,

and to prevent sick ness and disease, instead of attempting to cure the community's ills, the New South Males Minster for Health (l)r Arthur) reminds one of the little man who takes on a big man’s job. For he is a man of small physique, but with all the high idealism of the zealous reformer. His gospel, in short, is more milk and less beer, more fruit and less sweetstuffs. He lias now plunged into the gigantic task of trying to obtain a better and cheaper milk supply for the metropolis of Sydney. J 1 e hopes, before long, to be able to supply milk to all schools, so that youngsters can purchase a half-pint, for a penny. It is not inconceivable that pennies given to youngsters bv their fond parents for milk will be spent, without a twinge of conscience, on lollies, but that is by the way. The little doctor also hopes to make cheaper fruit available for the school kiddies. If Dr Arthur can by these , and other methods bring health to the people, and ease the hospitals of their staggering loads of patients and debts, be will have earned a monument more lasting than brass. His attitude is that if he could only lay bands on some of the £12,000,000 spent annually in New South Wales on beer and spirits, and spend it on milk and fruit for the men and women of tomorrow, the children would lie infinitely better off. and the beer drink ers would lie none the worse.