AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1928, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

lustralian Press Assn.—United Service A LIBEL SUIT. SYDNEY, Aug. 31. Air Thomas Mutch, formerly Minister of Education, has begun a suit against “Beckett’s Budget,” claiming five thousand sterling for libel in’statements alleging that he was unfitted to hold Ministerial office or to represent the people in Parliament. The hearing is unfinished. DISPUTE AT WORKS. SYDNEY, Aug.. 31. A dispute over, the dismissal of a boilermaker from Babcock-Wicox’s works connected with the Bumtierong power plane contract, has resulted in 150 men being idled. The trouble may spread to tho firm’s big workshops in the city, involving live hundred more. Two men were, originally disfnissod, hut one was reinstated. ’ The employers refuse to re-engage the other man under any circumstancs. If the Union persists in its demand that the man lie reinstated, the workshops will probably l>e closed and orders sent to the firm’s English works. They can he dealt with more cheaply. It is stated that many men are anxious to resume work.

MALING’S APPEAL. SYDNEY, Aug. 31. The Full Court has referred Silas Maling’s appeal (against his conviction of receiving £10,600 as a bribe) to the High Court of Australia, to decide the points on the constitution raised. The Court intimated that it considered that the other grounds of the appeal had failed.