AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PASSENGER. ARRESTED. Australian Press Assn.—United Service SYDNEY, Soptomber 15. Matthew Bigger, a wealthy Australian, travelling first class aboard the Aorangi, was arrested upon the arrival of that vessel yesterday mid charged with vagrancy. Detectives assert Bigger, who is suave and well dressed, is required in connection with some American inquiries from Atlantic City. He was released on probation.

N ATT 0N AL INS UIIA N CE. SYDNEY, September 15. Tlio Federal Treasurer outlined the National Insurance Bill. He estimates if tlio scheme comes into force in July, 1929, tlio number of employed contributors tlierto would be a 1,600,000, of whom 363,000 would be females. Persons earning over £416 annually will bo excluded. There are two classes of contributors, compulsory and voluntary, and the administratioiT'will follow the lines of the British scheme. Employers and employees contributions will amount to a shilling per week in the case of males and sixpence for females.

COAL INDUSTRY. SYDNEY, September 15. The Government’s proposals for the stabilisation of the coal industry will involve a reduction of the selling price by four shillings/per ton on coal sold locally and one shilling per toil on coal sold overseas. The State Government will bear two shillings of the reduction, colliery proprietors one shilling, and employees one shilling by means of periodical wage reductions. Premier Bavin is of the opinion that this scheme will enable at least 2,500 extra men to lie absorbed by Newcastle fields before Christinas. The big steel works there have signified a willingness to reduce the price of steel, which will lead to a larger output. BISHOP ROBBED. SYDNEY, September 15. Bishop Chambers, of Tanganiyka, who is taking a party of missionaries and nurses to South Africa, befriended supposedly a drunken man, who cannoned aginst him in a city crush yesterday. The Bishop saved him from falling by embracing him and handed him over to two companions.

Later on, as the Bishop, was entraining for Melbourne, he suddenly discovered he had lost his wallet, containing £3B and a letter of credit for £l5O, and ten first-class boat tickets for Africa. It then dawned upon him that the man had merely feigned drunkenness and relieved him of his wallet with its contents.

A TEACHER SHOT. SYDNEY, Sept. 16. A mysterious crime has occurred at Wolumba, near Eden, and one that apparently was without motive. A school teacher, Mr John Mulholland, aged 37 years, was returning home after visiting neighbours. He was found on the road shot dead. There were gunshot wounds in the head. There is no trace of his assailant.

NATIONAL INSUR A NCE. SYDNEY, September 17.

The Federal Labour Leader, Mr Scullin, criticising the proposed National Insurance scheme said lie regretted the omission from the bill of unemployment insurance; which was most urgent, 11c added that the proposed legislation merely covered accident and sickness, which were partially provided for already by old age and invalid pensions. CARDINAL CERRETTI. BRISBANE, September 17.

. Cardinal Cerretti, Papal Legato, laid the foundation stone of the new Roman Catholic Cathedral at Brisbane, in the presence of forty thousand people. There was a large gathering if Church dignitaries.

The cathedral which is costing 111, 000,000, will be the best in Australia. An appeal for donations yielded .£50,000.