AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1928, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

United Press Association.—-By Electric

Telegraph.—Copyright)

BUTTER TRADE. MELBOURNE, May IT

An inter-Sliite conference is being held of Australian anti New Zealand butter and cheese factory managers. Two hundred delegates are attending. .Mr Patterson, Minister of Markets, said investigation concerning the deterioration of Australian butter on arrival at London had shown thaUfactors other than the prohibition of boric acid as a preservative were responsible, but further experiments were proceeding.

The Federal Ministry is now considering a proposal to establish a Dairy .Research Institute, under the leadership of a bacteriologist. The Victorian Dairy Superintendent said Victoria was tightening up the Dairy Act with a view to ensuring the very host cream, as factorips were unable to manufacture first quality butter from contaminated cream.

COAL INDUSTRY. SYDNEY, May 15. Assistant Treasurer Stevens, who is trying to reorganise the coal industry, addressed the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce. lTe said much recent criticism on both sides was regrettaTde, causing mutual distrust, which in no way would rehabilitate this industry. He refused to believe the assertion of the engine drivers organiser, G. Sutherland, that a big upheaval in the coal industry was imminent. Mr Stevens said he was convinced that there was a widespread genuine desire for an amicable speedy solution. Ho lmd been in touch with both sides for the |>ast four days and was hopeful that the forthcoming conference with the Government would yield practical results. OWNERS’ PLAN OF CAMPAIGN SYDNEY. May 15. The shipowners’ drastic action in giving notice of dismissal of the crews of four vessels is being taken with the object of bringing the cooks’ strike to a bead.

The owners are working on a pTnvi which they aro keeping strictly secret. There is little doubt that the tying up of the ships is only the prelude to further action. The owners’ campaign is being directed from Melbourne. So far the plan has resulted in rendering idle three hundred men.

The developments within the next twenty-four hours will determine whether the country is to he faced with a crisis similar to that in 1917 when there was a strike, or whether

to cooks’ strike will come to an

abrupt ending. The latest move My. the shipowners is regarded hy the other Unions with grave, concern as already there is unemployment rampant. There are now fourteen steamers idle as the result of the cooks' strike, MELBOURNE. May 15.

An amazing situation has arisen in connection with the efforts of the Union leaders to settle the cooks’ dispute. Although the Australasian Council of Trades Unions yesterday adjourned the maritime union conference until Wednesday, to enable Yfr Tudeliope (cooks’ secretary) to attend. the Waterside Workers’ Federation to-day summoned a maritime con-

ference of its own for the same hour to-morrow, to deal with the dispute. It is now stated that Mr Tudehope will attend the Watersiders’ Conference,

although lie is expected at the other. Despite the now-divided efforts of the Unions to arrive at a settlement, it is believed that the outcome of the two Confertences _ to-morrow will be , tliait

the cooks will be asked to resume work.