AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8277, 2 November 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

NEW SOUTH WALES SAVINGS BANK. Received November 1, 9.16 a.m. SYDNEY, November 1. The deposits in the Government Saving Hank last year amounted to £8,884,000, being an increase of £68,000 over the previous year. The proportion of depositors to the population is one in six. A WESTKALIAN LOAN. Eeoeived November 1, 9.5 a.m. PERTH, Novwmber 1. The Premier has announced that he proposes to ask Parliament within a few daya to authorise a loan of two millions to be devoted to developing tho agricultural and mining industries of Westralia. STRIKE IN THE BUILDING TRADE. Reoeived November 1, 9.57 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 1. The striKe in tlie building trade practically commenced '.ast uigbi. At knooking-off time the Vigilance Committee notified the employers that the men would start work in the morning at 8 o'clock, instead of half past seven. Ibey would present themselves, and leave to the employers the duty of informing them that their servioes were not required. Evidence indicates that the strike will be almost general amongst the bricklayers and labourers in the city. Most of the Union carpenters will also leave work. According to the Trades' Hall estimate, Bixteen hundred carpenters, eight hundred bricklayers, and four hundred and fifty labourers will be affected, without counting such non-unionists as may throw in their lot with the strikers,

STRIKE COMMENCED. WORK AT A STANDSTILL ON MANY BUILDINGS. Received November 1, 11.40 p.m. The strike (nmrnenoed this morning. Many of the men did not turn a p. Others came at 8 o'clock instead of 7 o'olook. Thirty men were informed that their services were not required. <? Work is at a standstill on many buildings. A good many carpenters adhered to the uld agreement, and are still working. The Trades' Hall reports that f ally fifty builders and contractors outside the Builders 1 Association have conceded the men'a demands.

TRAINING SHIP PORT JACKSON

Reoeived November 1, 11.40 p.m. SYDNEY, November 1. The training ship Port Jackson, with 106 Caißpite boys aboard, arrived to day. The voyage from London oooupied 126 days. INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. JReeived November 1, 8.23 a.m. SYDNEY, November 1. The bankruptcy proceedings in connection with which the certificate of a Syrian storekeeper, residing at Cowra, was suspended for five years, disclosed some interesting correspondence between Sir William Lyne (Federal Minister of Trade and Customs') and Mr Palmer (Official Assignee).

Last month Sir Win, Lyne wrote to Mr Palmer, stating that he had known bankrupt for many years, and should not think it likely that there would bo any reason 'for withholding his Bertifloate. He would be glad if it could be issued as soon as ih could reasonably be done.

Mr Palmer, in the course ipf his reply, said that until the bauKrnpt had oompHed with the provisions of the Bankruptcy Act he ttaolined to disnusa the ca«e with the Minister, addins: "if the bankrupt is one of yonr constituents, your belief that there oan bo no reason for withholding his certificate and a desire for it to be issued, is perhaps excusable, but such belief and desire cannot be allowed, in any way, to influence the administration of justiue. Such letters as yours are injudioious, if for no other reason than that they are capable of serious misconstruction." In reply to this letter, Sir William Lyne wrote, expressing some little resentment at the terms of Mr Palmer's letter,aud declaring that De bad not the slightest intention or desire to influence the Offloial Assignee. Be only wished to prevent delay. He could not see how ou earth such a letter as this could be considered iujudioious. Mr Palmei'B next communication persists that Sir William Lyne's letter was injudicious. He concludes: "I am glad to have your assurance that you had not; the slightest in. tention or desire to influence me." Sir Willfam Lyne's reply expressed much resentment at the tone of Mr Palmer's letter. In dosing the correspondence, Mr Palmer says:-—"lt is very evident that we look on the matter from entirely different points of view, and no benefit can be derived, from a oontinuanoe of the correspond- , enoe.'' '

CABLE NEWS.

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