AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1922, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

EIRE AT KIAMA. By Telegraph.—Press Asm.—Copyright. Sydney, March 1 6. A big fire in a department store at Kiama early in the week caused £15,000 damage. It is believed the fire was caused by burglars; £5OO reward is offered for the conviction of the perpetrators. DARWIN MEAT WORKS. Melbourne, March 16. Mr. Hughes has announced that Vesteys are re-opening their meat works at Darwin at an early date. STEEL WORKS DEPRESSED. Sydney, March 16. The remaining blast furnace at the steel works at Port Waratah has been closed down and 300 men dismissed. It is expected the company’s contracts will be fulfilled oy the end of the month, and the works will then close. The extent of the depression at Lithgow is reflected in the reduced membership of the Ironworkers’ Union, which has dwindled from 600 to 130 members during 18 months. COUNCIL OF ACTION CONGRESS. Sydney, March 16 The Council of Action has decided to hold a second congress of unions at Melbourne on June 26 to consider reports on the socialisation of industry, the prevention of war, and generally to take stock of the economic position of the workers. WAGES KILLING TRADE. Melbourne, March 16. A. H. MacDonald, manufacturer of farm implements, giving evidence before the Arbitration Court, stated that the engineering award of 1921 frightened customers. His export trade had gone and only one big machine had been sent to New Zealand. Lewis, of Kelly and Lewis, stated that soon after the award came into operation a big contarct from New Zealand was cancelled. PROHIBITION PROPAGANDA. Sydney. March 16. The Business Men’s 'Efficiency League j of New South Wales as the result of replies received from many representatives of ousiness men and institutions in the United States and Canada, that prohibition had proved successful in those countries from a business standpoint, resolved to continue the educational campaign with the object of securing it here.