AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) FLOODS IN N.S.W. SYDNEY, Feb. 15 ■Heavy rains in Northern districts ansed heavy floods at Armidalc, tbo aver part of the town being inundatd Residents were forced to leave heir houses The gasworks were floodd and the town is without light. Seero damage was done to property, and lie rain also caused heavy damage to rops in the Glen limes district. PRICE OF FLOUR. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 1(5. The Minister of Customs has undcriken to bring tile application for inreased duties on pork, bacon, and ham eforo the Cabinet at an early date, 'he objective is mainly to shut out imortations from New Zealand. The application points out that it is considered a duty equivalent to that on butter ,and cheese namely six pence to seven pence per pound is the minimum required to put the pig industry on amore stable foundation, 'flic extent to which New Zealand ■■■ •'petition is in Sydney market may ’ aged from the fact that last month 2812012 pound weight of green pork and bacon ready for smoking was imported from the Dominion into N. S. AY. Imports for 1927 from Dominion were 530.204 pounds of pork. 341.099 pounds of bacon. BOILERMAKERS CKASF WORK. SYDNEY, Feb. lfi. As a protest against the introduction of a bonus system of payment at the Government Dockyard, AValsli Island, the boilermakers ceased work. The Trades Hall Council Disputes Committee decided that the iron workers and machinists assisting the boilermakers in the carriage shops, shipyards and bridgeynrds be called upon to cease work immediately. A meeting oi coach makers employed at Walsh Island decided to support the boilermakers in their fight. The Acting-Premier Air Buttenshaw says the Government will stand firm and will insist on the retention of the bonus system should the men go on strike. He declared the dockyards will be closed down and immediate steps will be taken to dispose of the works as a State industrial undertaking. He said there are no men at present receiving less than the the award rate, and the bonus system provided that men could earn fifty per cent above their award wages, if they completed the certain task set them. Air Buttenshaw said the policy’ ol the Government was against State industrial undertakings. Last year this undertaking lost almost £50,000 and the management was instructed to make strenuous efforts to make it pa.-. Trades Hall officials, who characterise Air Jluttenshaw’s threat to close down as Nationalist propaganda, said : “ AVe have heard that tale befoie. NKW RECORD CREATED. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.l MELBOURNE, Feb. 16. At the Victorian swimming carnival in the State hundred yards backstroke championship, Grier (Queensland) beat the German, Fraelich by a fraction in 1.8 1-5. thus creating a new Australian record. A COMING VISITOR, CANBERRA, Feb. 16. Mr Bruce announced that arrangements had been made for the Minister of Trade and Customs (Mr Pratten) to leave Australia for New Zealand on the Bth March for the purpose of discussing the reciprocal tradetreaty between the Commonwealth and the Dominion and general uncle relations. ADELAIDE. Feb. 18. Clem Hill, former Internationa cricketer, has been appointed handicapper for the South Australian Jockeydub.