AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1928, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

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

CORRUPTION CHARGE. SYDNEY, May 24

• The N.S.W. .State Taxation Commissioner, Mr AYhiddon, reporting to the Aispitant Treasurer, makes startling charges concerning the condition of affairs prevailing when the Federal and the State Taxation Departments were merged. Air AVhkldon declares that the Federal Department was topsy turvev, and that there was unmistakeable evidence of malpractice. He declares that, following on retrenchments, sabotage was resorted to in order to destroy portions of the recommendations made regarding refund, which lie (Air AA’hiddon) had suggested should he suspended. When lie saw the papers again, his minute to that effect had been deleted by a chemical process.

AYATERSIDERS v. T.U.C. AIELDOURNE, Alav 24

'l’lie waterside Workers’ Federation has informed the Australian Council of Trades Unions that it is standing behind Air Tudehope and the Cooks’ Union in the latter’s dispute with the ship owners.

Their decision will have a far-reach-ing effect on the water-front, and it may develop into the biggest union split in the industrial history of Australia.

The decision was reached, following an interview between Air Tudehope and the Management Committee of the Federation, and it means that the watersiders and tho cooks are ranged together against tho Australian Council

of Trades Unions and the whole of the other maritime unions.

T.U.C. APPEAL. MELBOURNE, May 24. At a meeting of the Australian Council of Trades Unions and Alaritimo Union officials, it was decided to ask the Trades’ Hall Council throughout Australia to decido whether the Australian Council of Trades Unions is to continue to control the cooks’ dispute witli tho authority of the rest ot tho industrial movement, or whether the cooks are to lie allowed to defy the whole industrial movement.

BUSINESS .MEN’S SUGGESTION SYDNEY, Alay 24

In the Marine Cooks’ dispute, there is still no sign of a .settlement, at tlie end of eleven weeks since the Ulimaroa was held up. Business men tinge an increase in the cargo fleets in order to meet their trading needs.

G()A'LIIN .A L HAT 11E AD Y. CANE Kill! A, .May 21. In the House of Representatives Dr Earle Page (Treasurer) in’ reply to a question, said that if a request were made by the proper persons for a temporary suspension of the coastal clauses of the Navigatin Act, in view of the stoppage! of shipping activities, caused by the marine cooks’ strike, the Government would give due consideration to it.

FRENCH AVAR ORPHAN. MELBOURNE May 25

Henri Hernene Tore], a French war orphan, and Diggers mascot, died as a result of a collision between .’his motor cyclic and a taxi cab in Spuing Street. Tovell’s father was kjilled in Flanders in 1915 and liis mother was killed by German raiders, leaving Henri an orphan of five years. He was rescued from rninsi and became a mascot of the Fourth Squadron of the Australian Flying Cor]), lie wandered from one unit to another on the battlefield and was wounded on two occasions, and when the Armistice wilt; silgnod he 'wascleverly smuggled aboard a troop yes-, sel to Australia, in a sack containing loaves of bread.

PAPUAN EXP LOHATJON. CANBERRA, May 25

Th© Federal Territories Department lias received a copy of a resolution from the London Missionary Society congratulating the Papuan Government upon the successful exploratory expedition across the heart of this great island, and the discovery hv two of its officers, C. Karins and J. Champion, of sources of Fly and Sepik rivers. The opinion was expressed that this achievement is the greatest in Papuan history.

COOKS STRIKE NEWS. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). MELBOURNE, May 25. Tudehope has reached Melbourne again. At a meeting of the Trades Hall Council last night the following letter in reply to an invitation to Tudehope to attend was read: “I respectfully desire to inform you I am at present- engaged in negotiations for a settlement of tlie cooks’ dispute. 1 feel it would be inadvisable for me to take part in your proceedings.” Tudehope, however, was a listener in the visitors’ gallery. Industrial officers of the various shipping companies are at present conferring as to the number and quality of volunteer labour offering, so tliat hi the event of the strike continuing, a definite move can be made on an appointed date to man the ships with free labour. Union officials do not treat this threat seriously.

FEDERAL STATISTICS. SYDNEY, May 25. The Federal Treasurer. (Mr Page), states Australia is fifth in the list of density of motor cars, having one ear for every seventeen persons. There are four and a half million depositors in the Government Savings Bank among a population of six and a quarter millions whose balances aggregate 206 millions, in addition to which trading hanks held 264 millions sterling,

SUPPORT OF COOKS

SYDNEY. May 25

The Labour Council at Sydney carried a resolution supporting the cooks strike.

RESEARCH FUND. MELBOURNE, May 25

Wool selling brokers have devoted five thousand sterling to the Australian pastoral research fund, the objective of which, two hundred thousand sterling, will lie devoted to research into many troubles that l>eset pastoralists.