AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1930, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

MINISTER’S DENIAL

OF ALLEGED PROMISE,

(Australian Press Association)

(Received this day at 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 4

The Minister of Education, (Mr Drummond) declines further official communication with the State Public School Teachers’ Federation, owing to the latter’s President (Mr MeGuinness) accusing the Government of repudiating a promise to make the teachers award restrospective. to 1927. The Minister declares that no such promise was made and refuses to recognise the Federation until it “appoints as its officers men who may be expected to confine themselves to fair dealing and truthful statements.” Mr Ale Guinness maintains the promise was made, and will not retract the accusation.

WOOL CONFERENCE

MELBOURNE, Feb. 4

A conference of' wool owners and brokers is being held to-day to devise plans to finance wool, which it is contended must be withheld from the market until consumers are ready for fresh stocks. The industry is courting disaster, its representatives assert, by continuing to force more wool on the market than the world’s buyers require, with the result that the surplus must bo sacrificed at speculators own prices. Owners have hitherto been self-reliant and have eschewed Government aid in marketing organisation, but it is believed an appeal for financial assistance to tide them over the present difficulty may he decided upon "fay the conference. They recognise the SeuHin Ministry has shown a desire to help the industry.

REPORTED SHOOTING

BY DEMENTED MAN. (Received this dav at 12-25. p.m.) BRISBANE, Feb. 4. Two black hoys rowed from Palm Island, north of Townsville to the mainland and reported that Doctor Maitland Paterson had been shot in the thigh and the matron of the hospital in the neck. Both. were N in a serious condition. An official who lost his wife recently and became demented, is said to have been responsible ! for the shooting. Police and medical aid have beep sent to the island. STOPPING WORK. SYDNEY, February 4. It is reported that all postal constructional work is to cease, entailing the dismissal of move than two thousand employees throughout the Commonwealth.

BUSH FIRES,

SYDNEY, February 4

A forest fire in Snowy river district near Orbost assumed alarming proportions. It crossed the river and destroyed stocks and railway sleepers and cutters plant, also a large area of grass. Serious bush fires threaten grass in Mount Wellington district.

A farmer named Hayward went out to fight a hush blaze in the back ranges near St a well. When he returned he found a six roomed house burned, believed to be due to beeswax left melting on the stove and boiling ov.er.