AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1928, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

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

MOTOR. OIL. SYDNEY, May 22. Whether motorist's should import their own petrol as is done by the Canterbury (New Zealand) Automobile Association is tlie subject of discussion in Sydney, 'but representative men disapproved. They argue the petrol price is not unreasonable. Country charges merely have freight added, while distributors work all hours every day of tlie week for the convenience of motorists. One prominent commercial man, Mr Boyd Belkins, declared tlie Canterbury experiment would not last long. Another, Mr Murdoch, M.L.C., expressed the opinion that Canterbury must be getting the cheap Mexican sp i ri. MISSING 'NEW ZEALANDER. MELBOURNE, May 22. Pcrcival West, the New Zealander who was found his father yesterday after n nine years’ search, states that he will not return toi New Zealand, as lie is quite happy and comfortable at tlie Morniiigton Hotel, where he has been employed for the past seven years. , West had not scon his father since 1011.

an arrest. BRISBANE, May 23. The man arrested in connection with the Silkwood murders is Thomas Pilling. lute of Tasmania. another divorce suit. SYDNEY, May 23. Mrs Georgina Albert has filed a petition for divorce against Arthur Albert, who lias figured prominently before the civic royal commission. Mr S Martha Gordon, who also has been prominent at the inquiry, is named in tlie petition. T.TT.C. ON ITS TRIAL. MELBOURNE, May 23. Yt'hou Lite co n fere live of the Australasian Council of Trades Unions and the Maritime Unions meets tomorrow. certain union officials will demand that the Council either definitely remains in charge of the Cooks’ dispute, with or without Mr Tiulohopo’s authority, or else retire from tlie dispute altogether. It is now recognised that tlie Australian Council of Trades Unions is on its trial, and if it fails to insist upon its authority to conduct the dispute, it will have been dealt a Wow from which it will he unable to recover.

COST OF FEDERAL CAPITAL. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.l CANBERRA. May 21. Tlie expenditure already incurred in milding the Federal capital at Canierra totals seven and a quarter milions, including capnlised interest.

DEMENT ON ARBITRATION BILL CANBERRA. May 24.

Speaking on the amending ol the

Arbitration Bill. Mr Rodgers (Victoria) said tfic central compulsory arbitration system in Australia had lailed, and the tLine bad arrived for the Commonwealth to surrender to the States absolute control of industries. The Australian people wore seized with tlie opinion that the great central of the Compulsory Arbitration system was the great eaterpiller-likc instrument which arrived two years after the dispute had gone. Tlie Government permitted the secondary industries to enjoy a high social standard, while the primary industries languished in poverty. Tlie States in 1924 owed .U 330.000.000 at Cl 2s (id per cent .and to-day they owed Cfi 10,000,000 at .C l 8s 2d per cent interest. This was explained by the present new social standard, and there was not enough money in industry to support it. The debate was adjourned.