THE COMMONWEALTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CII, Issue 15633, 16 April 1915, Page 7

THE COMMONWEALTH.

THE PREMIER'S CONFERENCE. Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright. SYDNEY, April 14. Much disappointment is felt that Mr Massey is unable to accept what is considered au excellent opportunity to discuss questions of mutual interest. BIG ENGINE ORDER. The Federal Cabinet has placed an order for twenty engines for the transAnsfcrnlian. railway with a Queensland firm. THE FINANCES. EKED OUT BY LOAN. MELBOURNE, April 14.

Touching finance Mr Fisher said the present indications were that the estimates of revenue for the year would he satisfactory on the whole and though there would he a shortage, it was unlikely to cause serious embarrassment. The expenditure to the 28th February was £-21,336,070 and receipts £20.987."857, compared with the estimate of £3G,361,214 for tho whole year. The war expenditui'o would exceed the estimates, but woidd bo met out of the additional loan of Oj million granted by tho Imperial Government, making tho total 24J millions to be received up to tho end of December.

GOING TO HIS WORK. Received 5.5 p.m., April 15th. SYDNEY, April 10. Mr Malcolm Ross (New Zealand's war correspondent) sailed in the Morca. BELGIAN FUNDS. The. Belgian national fund of New South WA'es is now £"29,000. The contributions now average £IOOO daily.