AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

NOTED SHIPMASTER. DEAD, lustraliau Press Assn. —United Service (Iteceiv&u this day at 11 U u.m • SYDNEY, Sept. 18. Obituary.—Captain G. Spinks, formerly master of the Union Company’s principal vessels, aged 09. He was master of the Talune when lie earned fame for salvaging tlie Perthshire in June, 1899. When that vessel was given up as lost, she was discovered with a broken tail shaft off Lord Howe Island, when she was ninety days out from Sydney. Spinks was afterwards chief surveyor for the marine underwriters.

WHEAT POOL BATTLE. NEW SOUTH WALES FARMERS SYDNEY,’ Aug. 31. One of tlie biggest battles in the history of the farmers of New South Wales is that now, in progress to decide. next month, whether they will be brought under a compulsory wheat pool, or whether they will elect to trad in the open market. Only two of Sydney’s newspapers have taken any stand in" the matter, and each is unequivocally opposed to the pool.. There is a strong feeling that the pool will be rejected, especially by tbo small growers, who, with heavy commitments, cannot afford to wait for advances, ir • drills and drabs, but want spot cash for tlicir wheat. The growers arc being reminded, incidentally, and as a shocking example of what might happen to them, of tlie sad story of the New Zealand producers in connection with butter control. They are being reminded also that the Act under which the pool will operate is a replica of the Act in Queensland, “where,” to quote one of the leading spirits in the fight against the pool, “the first plank in ‘the Government’s platform is control of production, distribution, and exchange.” “Are we,” it is added, “to perpetuate the agony of this socialistic legislation of the northern State?” Even the farmers themselves are unexpectedly spilling quite a lot of ink in espousing or opposing the pool.