AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1922, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

BASIC WAGE* REDUCED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Brisbane, Feb. 1. The Arbitration Court reduced the basic wage for men by five shillings to £4, and for women by two shillings to £2 Is weekly as the result of the reduced cost of living. SEAMEN’S UNION EXPLAINS. Sydney, Feb. 1. The secretary of the Seamen’s Union stated that the drew of the Moyeton Bay was not refused admission; on the contrary, twenty of them decided to stay in Australia and joined the union. He added that the whole of the crew voted in favor of a resolution calling out the English crew and substituting Australians.

PLAGUE PATIENT BETTER. Sydney, Feb. 2. The plague patient is progressing favorably. No infected rats have been discovered on the premises where the case occurred. PONTIFICAL. REQUIEM MASS. Sydney, Feb. 1. A Pontifical Requiem Mass for the Pope was celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The congregation of 5000 included representatives of the Governor, the Government, and the various !■ Consuls. At the conclusion of ' the Mass, Archbishop Kelly delivered an eloquent panegyric on the dead Pope. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RECORD COAL OUTPUT. Sydney, Feb. 2. The New South Wales coal output last year was 10,793,000 tons, 77,000 tons in excess of the previous year, also establishing a record which, but for the numerous Strikes, would have been considerably higher. The value was £9,078,000, 01 £11,355,000 above 1920. MR. M’GIRR’S CANDIDATURE. •Sydney, Feb. 2. Mr. M'Girr’s recent selection as a candidate for Sydney has caused much perturbation in Labor circles, amongst other things because it means the ousting of the sitting member. Mr. Minahan. The validity of the ballot is questioned and a meeting of the executive of the Labor Party declared it void and endorsed, a new set of candidates, excluding Mr. M'Girr and including Jdr. Minahan. ■ This decision was followed by a wild scene, during which a majority of the executive made their exit by a back door.