AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright )

REPUTED £BOOO isiUhE. SYDNEY. May 7

W. Lambert, M. H. R. declares that while Theodore M.H.R. "as looking for a safe labour scat eighteen months ago. lie (Lambert) iva- offered £BOOO sterling bribe by a Uirmer Labour supporter to abdicate V»c*t Sydney seat to Theodore, but lie declined, though the money was very tempting. Theodore was afterwards provided with Dailey seat, W. Mahoney making way for Theodore. Lambert adds: “Now 1 rind that the same crowd that offered £BOOO has jockeyed me out of West, Sydney Labor Section, and I mil a beaten man.”

Theodore, interviewed last night, declared Lambert's statement toa grotesque to warrant serious consideration. A SUDDEN DEATH. (Received this day at 8 a in.) SYDNEY. May 8. Obituary—.Mr Pra.tten (Minister of Customs) suddenly. Aeta-t 03. Mr Prat ten collapsed whilst addressing a women's meeting at Turraniiirra .suburb. His last words wore :-- “I wonder what, view historians one hundred years’ hence will lake ol the p-litii iaus of to-day.’’

Mr-v Pra.tt.cn foil, momentarily revived. and died within five minutes. The audience were stunned. It wn .Mr Pnrtteii’s sixty-third birthday, and the women had a huge (ake on which were sixty-three lighted candles, to present after the gathering. His widow and son were among the audience.

ATr Pratten had a long political and public career. He was a former Senator and recently visited New Zealand. THE COOKS’ HOLD-UP. SYDNEY, -May 8. The Federal Secretary of tiie Marine C’cok.s (Mr Ttulehopo) has gone to Bri-s-I;-silie. Several days will elapse before a reply to the shipowners’ letter, cabled yesterday, can be formulated. 0. AI onto (General President) met the Disputes Committee of the Trades Jiiall at Melbourne and arranged a meeting of representatives of all maritime unions in Melbourne on Wednesday. The Disputes Committee is anxious to prevent a serious upheaval. MELBOURNE. -May S. Mr Appleton, commenting on the request of -the cooks for a conference, said lie had never heard of such confounded impertinence. While the lnion deliied the Court’s authority, the owners would give no guarantee in writing other than that contained in their telegraphed reply, that the conditions of the suspended award would continue to operate. ft the cooks manned the vessels the cooks could apply to the Court to have the suspended award restored. Pending a reply from the Union no calls for cooks would be made. Mr Appleton said lie had already received a number of applications from volunteer enoks, STEAMER. STEEL AIA Tv ER. .SUVA; .May S. The steamer Steelmaker is proceeding from Mitchell Reef to Pago Pago, escorted by the Peaccok, and is due on the 10th. THE COAL POSITION. SYDNEY, Alav 8. An official statement on the coal position was ma cle by Mr C. .McDonald, Chairman of the Northern Colliery Proprietors’ Association, who endorse.! Brown’s comments that the coal position was parlous and that in order to stabilise the industry, the owners, the miners and the Government must make sacrifices.

foreign and inter-Stnte coal shipments had dropped 1,700,000 tons. Australia could not possibly compete with coolie-produced Japanese and .South African coal, while Swedish. French, Belgian and German proprietors were complaining that British owners were underselling them.

Air McDonald added that the other side of the picture was the Government assistance which some countries were giving to the coal industry which was denied in Australia. TIMBER WORKERS. AIELBOURNE. May 8.

Giving evidence before Judge Beeby in tlie Arbitration Court, Air 1 revalyn Bland, of the Timber Discharging Coyproduced figures showing that the handling of both American and Baltic timbers had fallen considerably, clue to workers slowing down. Judge Beeby said if it were proved to he a definite diminution of output, the ultimate result would he a reduction in the rates of pay. BROADCASTING COAIPANTES AfEBGE. AfELBOURNE. May 8. The broadcasting companies 3LO and 3AR have merged and will henceforth he known as the Dominion Broadcasting Coy

racehorse AND RIDER disqualified. (Received this day at 10.15 a.mA SYDNEY. M.ay S. Jockov Puckeruk'e and 1,10 racehorse Cliirmo were disqualified for lde at a country meeting at Wynne "'bore Puckeridfse used an electric b.Ute . • The horse bolted and "on. MW DAY PROCESSION. RRISRAXE, May S. The ATnv Day procession was noteworth v for red banners, on winch the. e were inscribed “ Lon S lave Sot • Russia." and similar inscriptions, also an eliisiv of Rruee on a scaffold. PERTH. May b. A Communist disturbance durinfX the Mnv Day procession occurred. 'out Communists were arrested and others dispersed.