VARIOUS CABLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 158, 8 July 1904, Page 3

VARIOUS CABLES.

MELBOURNE CUSTOMS SCANDAL. MELBOURNE, July 7. I The Collector 0 f Customs has issued writs against four lish salesmen and importers, claiming duties alleged to have been short paid on a consignment of New Zealand fish. The. total amount involved is £114:!, and a penalty of £IOOO is also claimed in each case. The actions will be heard in August. UNIONISM DISCUSSED. SYDNEY, July 7. At the annual meeting of the Pustoralists" Association, Mr W. E. Abbott, in his presidential address, attacked the I'ailiamentary tactics of the Labour parties. It was clearly their intention to repent on a larger scale the "New Australia" experiment, and to effect this the Labour Unions had 'been converted into political organisations*. He declared the Arbitration Court was simply an agent of the Labour caucus. The court deputed its almost unlimited power to political associations mnsunder tbe name of Labour Unions, while neither the Governniene, Parliament, nor the people had any control over the appointment of the irresponsible committees by which such powers were used for political and pecuniary gain.

JAPANESE ENVOYS OFF TO THE WAR. LONDON, July 7. The Maifajuess Oyama and his colleagues who have boon visiting Europe as political envoys from Japan, have started on their return. They will proceed to the scene of the war. CHINESE LABOUR. LONDON, July 7. Mr Balfour was entertained at dinner in the House of Commons by the Northern Unionist Commoners. In tire course of a speech he said uhe chief factor in the bye-elections was the mendacious statements concerning Chinese labour. The most apparent danger of the Government at the present moment was the want of loyalty on the part of some Unionist members. CAPE COLONY POLITICS. CAPETOWN, July 6. The Progressives -have captured two more seats in the Legislative Assembly. «= ■ .-St