AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1929, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(Australian Press Association) AN APPOINTMENT. SIDNEY, February 15. Edward Milner Stephen, a well known Sydney barrister, was appointed acting -Judge of the Supreme Court during ( hiel Justice Street's absence on holiday. SENSATION IN PAR 1.1 A.M ENT. CANBERRA, Eehruary to. l-ate last night Air Theodore caused a sensation in the House of Representatives l>v stating a statutory declaration had been placed recently before the Attorney-General,- alleging improper practices by Commonwealth officers and witnesses in connection with the recent trial of Jacob Johnson, who " - as sentenced to six months’ gaol in connection with the -Marine Cook Union trouble. One affidavit was sworn hy’ And resell, a member of the Seamen's Union at Wellington, New Zealand, to the effect that lie took notes of a meeting of seamen and communicated what happened to Mr Dillon, representative olf the Shipowners’ Federation and subsequently through Dillon, Andresen alleges lie met Longniore, a Commonwealth police officer, who induced him to obtain oilier witnesses for the prosecution and that Longniore supplied money for this purpose. Mr Theodore demanded a searching inquiry into these allegations.

A NOTABLE PASSENGER. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 16. Sir Trilby King is aboard the Ulimaroa. COLLIERY TROUBLE. ‘NEWCASTLE, Feb. 15. Seven thousand miners on the Northern Coalfields were to-day served with notice of dismissal. The notices were handed to them with their fortnightly par. Two thousand miners who received no pay, owing to slackness in the trade also received notices of dismissal. It is generally believed that the mines in the Newcastle and Maitland ..districts will close down at the end of a. fortnight, but it is not known what the owners’ next move will be. N.S.W. PREMIER. SYDNEY, Feb. 15. The Premier of New South Wales, Mr Bavin, is going to Canberra next week- to have a conference with the Prime Minister, Mr Bruce, on the coal crisis. STRIKE PAY FOR TIMBER WORKERS. SYDNEY, Feb. 15. Strike pay was to-day distributed to some thousands of idle thnl>er yardsmen, who manifestly were dissatisfied with the meagre allowance as compared with what they were earning before iiie strike. WORKERS’ ATTITUDE. MELBOURNE, Feb. 15. When the Peace-in-lndustry Conference assembles at Sydney, it is .likely that the majority of the Labour delegates who attended the Melbourne preliminary gatherings will be absent. The Melbourne Trades Hall Council, by 61 votes to 59, has decided to withdraw its delegates from the forthcoming conference. ESCAPEE RECAPTURED. SYDNEY, Feb. 15. Patrick Duncan, a prisoner who escaped with another prisoner on February 14th. was arrested to-day. . SEVERAL DROWNINGS. SYDNEY, Feb. 15. Two Syrian hawkers, crossing a swollen creek near Pt. Macquarrie on the north coast, wore drowned to-day, their motor lorry being washed away. The body of one of the flood victims earlier in the week, John Coulton, was recovered from snags to-uay. TEN WET DAYS. SYDNEY, Feb. 15. Yesterday was Sydney’s tenth successive wet day, when nearly two inches of rain fell, the total being ten inches since February Ist. BARQUENTINE LOST. SYDNEY, February 15. The last of the fleet of barquentines trading between Sydney and tlio South Seas, the steel vessel Aloxa, registered at Wellington, was burned to the water’s edge. She was beached at Butaritari, in the Gilbert Islands. Advice has been received at Sydney that tho fire occurred yesterday. It swept the Aleva from stem to stern. The crew o>f eleven and the master, Captain fleyden, all of Sydney, are safe. RELEASE OF JOHNSON REFUSED. SYDNEY, February 15. A deputation of seamen to-day asked Mr Justice Lee to release Jacob Johnson from gaol, pending the outcome of any Federal investigation into Mr Theodore’s allegation that Johnson was convicted on false evidence. M,r Justice Lee replied that ho was unable to grant the request, as tho State Governeinnt was merely housing the prisoner, who had been convicted, under the Federal Crimes Act.