AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1920, Page 8

AUSTRALIA.

GENERAL ITEMS. By TelecTn'^i —Press AssnCopyrtjM. Received August 11, 7.15 p.m. Sydney, August 11. The Graziers' Association maintains a determined attitude against accepting the shearers' demand for a forty-four hour week. They claim that twentythree sheds have already started on a 48 hours' basis, but the shearers deny that any members of the union have started on the graziers' terms. The Sydney branch of the Boilermakers' Union resolved not to give work !to any men educated in a technical college as boiler-makers undpr the repatriated soldiers' scheme. Other ; unions are limiting the number of suck vocationally trained men. Returned men associations are strongly protesting. Sydney, August 11.

The gratuities issued to the end of July amounted to £12,500,000, of which £2,000,000 has been cashed. The prospect of a strike among the New South Wales coal miners is greatly perturbing Victoria, as its industries are keenly feeling the coal shortage, having to utilise half brown coal and having no reserve. The Sydney City Council has passed a resolution in favor of a municipal undertaking to reduce the cost of funerals. Brisbane, August 10. Owing to inability to float a loan in London, Government is unable to proceed with a scheme for settling several, thousand soldiers on the land, and also the establishment of State iron and steel works.