AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1921, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

. MOUNT MORGAN MINE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Brisbane, May 5. The Mount Morgan miners took a ballot on the question of accepting the company’s offer of a 20 per cent, reduction in wages, so as to enable work to be continued. The offer was rejected by 726 votes to 547. SHEARERS’ PAY. Sydney, May 5. A manifesto has been issued by the Australian Workers’ Union urging shearers to work only 44 hours weekly during the coming shearing season, and demand a considerable increase in the rates of pay. AN INSANE MURDERER. Adelaide, May 5. Tomayeff, charged with the murder of Mr. Brookfield, has been certified insane and ordered to be detained in strict custody during/the Governor’s pleasure. [Tomayeff began shooting wildly at a railway station, and Mr. Brookfield, a well-known Labor member, was fatally wounded in attempting -o seize him.] FIRE AT CLONCURRY. Brisbane, May 5. A fire at Cloncurry destroyed eeven business places. The damage amounted to .£30.000. CONDITIONS AT BROKEN HILL. Sydney, May 5. The Minister of Labor has returned from a visit to Broken* Hill, where he inquired into the industrial conditons. He found business almost at a standstill, many houses and ishopy deserted, and the people largely dependent on the Government for relief, which has already run into many thousands. He told the miners there were two factors dominating the situation, so far as working the mines was concerned —namely, the cost of production and the low price of metals. Therefore, as wages followed the price of metal upwards, they must now follow it downwards. THE FLAG INCIDENTS. Sydney, May 5. Mr. Dooley, referring to the Domain flag-burning incident and the soldiers’ attempt to capture the Red Flag, said mob rule or incitement to disorder would not be tolerated. The Government would not allow either attempts to break up meetings or burn Union Jacks.