COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3409, 28 December 1911, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

THE SHEARERS POSITION

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT! SYDNEY, Dec. 27.

It is reported that Saturday’s Cabinet meeting ended in a deadlock, Mr Willis declining the Government’s request to resign. Nothing can be done till the House assembles. Mr Willis denies that the Government requested his resignation. He declines to say what transpired at the Cabinet meeting attended by him. FERRY BOAT COLLISION. A collision between the ferry, boats Koree and Kirribilli occurred in the harbor. Twenty feet of the bulwarks of the latter were canied away. One passenger was injured seriously. VESSELS HELD UP. Owing to the coastal wharf laborers refusing to work overtime on Saturday at award rates, several vessels were forced to return a portion of their cargo to ports of embarkation. The men demanded 2s 3d. and the award states Is 101 d. LARGE INCOMES, SMALL FAMILIES. MELBOURNE, Dec. 27. A return of account books kept by householders shows larger incomes and relatively smaller families. The books returned were not sufficiently numerous to be of much value. RIGHTS OF THE HOUSE. ADELAIDE, Dec. 27. In the Assembly the Premier announced that the Government had decided upon definite steps .to enforce the rights of the House. He moved an adjournment of the Assembly until January 3rd, to enable the Government to confer fully with the Governor. The motion was carried. MURDER AND SUICIDE. BRISBANE, Dec. 27. George Cooper, a wharf laborer, shot his wife seriously, and suicided. SMELTING WORKS FIRE. By a fire' at the smelting works at Chillagoe, the main building, also the electric travelling overhead crane, was severely burnt. The damage amounts to £7OOO. The work will probably be delayed for three months. SYDNEY WATER SUPPLY. (Received Dele. 27, 9.55 pm.) SYDNEY, Dec. 27. Tile city water supply lias been restored to normal. PECULIAR ACCIDENT. BRISBANE, Dec. 27.

At the Oxley races a horse struck a tree and 1 rolled under the fence amongst the spectators. The rider and two spectators bad each a leg broken and two others were injured. DROWNING FATALITY. ADELAIDE, Dec. 27.

A boat capsized; on Lake Torrens and a man named Busch and a Miss Irish were .drowned.