AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1929, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

BRITISH COAL,

ABLAZE ON SHIP

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY, Sept. 23,

• The steamer ‘ Stilton Hall, "bound from Immingham to Adelaide, with coal, is reported to be on fire two thousand miles west of Perth. The steamer Anthea is rushing' to her assistance. The Stilton Hall's crew have taken to the boats.

SYDNEY GUN PLAY

A LONG SENTENCE,

SYDNEY, Sept. 23

At- the Criminal Session to-day, Charles Thompson, aged 29, a labourer, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment on a charge of shooting at Constable Jackson with intent to do grievous bodily harm, on July 12. The evidence revealed that Thompson, who was involved in an underworld affray at Woolloomoolloo, ■ fired point blank at Jackson, who returned the fire and brought Thompson down with a wound on the shoulder.

COAL COMMISSION. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 24. An interim official report on the Coal Commission available to-night supports the statement by the Premier Mr Bavin, earlier in the year that the average • profits of the Associated Northern Coal Proprietors, representing ten collieries, was approximately two shillings per ton. As a matter of fact the Commission finds that the average profit of the rateable output of coal derived by these companies in 1927 amounted to 2s 1.6 d. The average saleable output of coal that year was 5,064,657 tons and the profits therefrom amounted to £540,376.

COAL DISPUTE,

STILL A DEADLOCK

(Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 24.

Although Premier Bavin has conferred with both sides, there is considered to be small chance of an early resumption in the coal- dispute, following the Commission’s findings, the miners- having previously refused to be bound by the Commission’s decision.

Union officials challenged the accuracy of its computations. They state an improper allowance was made by the Commission for endowment, compensation, and income tax, and the finding therefore was equivalent to 3s 5-Jd per ton.

Mr Bavin subsequently stated that the owners were prepared to re-open the mines on the basis of the Government’s proposals. $

LABOUR’S INTENTIONS

SYDNEY, September 24

Mr Theodore (Deputy Leader of the Labour Party) in his opening campaign speech, said Labour, if returned, would not fiestitate to establish a Commonwealth owned shipping line to resist overseas monopolies.