AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1922, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

MURRAY HAND SETTLEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, July 15. ' -Sir George Fuller has made available 1 for publication the officer’s report on the ; Murray lands. The report is unfavorable to wheat-growing, stating that in most parts the land is suitable only for grazing. Though tension has eased as the recult of the publication of the report, the opposition to Sir J. Carruthers’ land settlement scheme has hardened. COAL MINERS’ WAGES. Sydney, July 15. The coal owners have again applied to the tribunal for a 33 1-3 per eent. reduction in wages. The sitting will probably be held next week. STATEMENT AS TO SEAMEN. Sydney, July 15. I Mr. Walsh explained that Mr. Havelock Wilson’s cable referred to his protest against the Federated Seamen’s Union debarring members of the National Union from retaining their positions on Commonwealth steamers. Mr. Walsh added that he had twice replied to Mr. Wilson by letter, and cabled to that effect. OFFICIAL REINSTATED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received July 14, 11.35 p.m. Brisbane, July 14. Mr. Theodore announced that Mr. Cumming, Government Printer, has written expressing regret at the circumstances which led to the termination of his appointment, and the Government, after considering the explanation, decided to reinstate GENERAL ITEMS.' Sydney, July 14. Hope has been abandoned of the Norwegian barque Janna, which left Sydney in December last for Falmouth, wheatladen. She carried a crew of Scandinavians. The Coal-miners’ Federation have withdrawn the injunction proceedings again.:t the Coal Tribunal, as no good purpose would be served by spending the union’s funds in testing the validity of the laws. Further drastic curtailments have been ordered by the Government meteorologist to discontinue the forenoon reports from the country observers respecting rainfall and the weather. Absence of such information, it is considered, will severely handicap the bureau in forecasting. In the Assembly, after an all-night session, the censure motion was negatived by 47 votes to 31. The Labor Party’s executive appointed a committee to inquire into Mr. Catts’ charges. The report furnished characterises the attack as cunningly-concocted misrepresentations made under the cover of privilege and designed to injure those prominently asociated with Mr. Catts’ ex- , pulsion from the party. It recommended ’ a vote of confidence in the parties attacked. , A proposal is on foot to convert the orchestra into a symphony orchestra, which will be self-supporting, with Mr. Skalski as organiser and conductor without, re--1 muneration till it is financial success. M. Skalski outlined a scheme by which he 1 invites subscriptions for two lengthy series of concerts of both popular and classical music. The subscription for the former is £4 per annum, and the latter £3. Trouble is brewing in the Cabinet over the lands policy. It is understood Cab- • inet is divided over the Carruthers’ land settlement scheme, particularly regarding - the Murray River lands, about which it is stated the adverse report of the expert ’ officer was suppressed. It is considered likely that the trouble may terminate ?n the resignation of Sir Joseph Carruthers. Color is lent to the suggestion by the speech by Mr. Weaver (Nationalist) on the censure motion, when he stated the ; sooner Sir Joseph Carruthers got out of the Ministry the better it would be for the party.