THE PRICE OF BREAD.

COST OF WHEAT PRODUCTION LABOUR PARTY INVESTIGATION. [>lY TEUvGUAIMI. —I'RKSS ASSOCIATION.] WI4LLI NOT ON, Wednesday. Tim svliciit. dill ins were discussed at length by the Labour Party Conference. Ib was eventually decided to set up a sub-committee with instructions to investigate and report lo the national executive upon the problems of wheat, production, prices, duties, distribution, and also Iho price of Hour and bread to consumers, while ensuring standard wages to farm employees and an adequate return to the wheat -farmers. The committee is also to investigate and report upon primary production and export prices generally, with a riew to formulating ;i policy of stabilisation of the incomes of bona-lide working farmers engaged in primary production.

RABBIT FARMING INDUSTRY. CONFERENCE OF BREEDERS. Matters dealing with commercial rabbit breeding were discussed at a conference at Wellington of delegates representing rabbit breeders throughout New Zealand. Questions such as marketing schemes, registration systems, and the introduction of new breeds were considered. Mr. W. G. Wright, president of the Canterbury Rabbit Breeders' Association, presided. The Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup, who opened the conference, said lie realised that the commercial rabbit industry would be of very great importance in tho days to come. The climate of New Zealand was very suitable for the breeding of small animals, and ho was confident that if the Angora wool and Chinchilla pelt industry was strongly organised and concentrated on a central sale it

would be to (ho advantage of all. In New Zealand they had been relying 100 much 011 wool, mutton, butter and cheese, the four major industries of the counlry, and they had been overlooking such industries as honey producing, pig raising and poultry breeding. He assured the delegates that, commercial rabbit farming would be. a very big thing for New Zealand, and be wished them every success, lie understood that at present there were approximately 15,000 Angora and Chinchilla rabbits in the Dominion.

BURNS, PHI LP COMPANY. ISLAND TRADING CONDITIONS. The annual report of Burns, I'hilp (South Seas) Company, Limited, shows gross earnings from all sources (including balance brought forward) to be £187,231, less salaries, expenses, depreciation and losses, leaving a net balance of £62,660 to be dealt with. It is proposed to apportion this as follows; Dividend of Is 6d per share 011 750.000 shares (£56,250), to reserve fund £SOOO (making total reserve £85.000). and the carry forward £l4lO 9s 9d. The report says the value of all island produce remained extremely low during the year, and merchandise sales and shipping revenue declined owing to tho curtailment of spending power at the islands. NEW AUCKLAND COMPANIES. EIGHT PRIVATE REGISTRATIONS. The following private companies have been registered in Auckland: — States Trust and Investment/ Company, Limited, financial trust and investment agents, executors and administrators in regard lo the wills and estates of deceased persons, etc. Capital, £IO,OOO, in £1 shares. Subscribers Harold Sydney Reid, 6800 shares; Marjorio Kathleen Reid, 3200 shares.

Tlio Auckland Bus Company, Limited, Now Lvnn, earners of passengers and goods, etc. Capital, £SO(XX in £1 shares. Subscribers: William lddeson, 4000 shares; Beatrice lddeson, 850 shares; liryco Conrad J fart, 150 shares. The principal object of the company is to take over the whole of tlio assets, business, licence and undertaking of William lddeson as the proprietor of a bus service between Auckland and Henderson and neighbourin!; districts. Helensville Motors, Limited, ITelensvillo, garage proprietors, etc. Capital, £2OOO, in £1 shares. Subscribers: Albert James Roycroft, 1040 shares; Daisy Isabel Roycroft, 950 shares; Walter John McOloy, 10 shares. The New Zealand Pleating Company, Limited, pleaters, overlookers, hcmstitchers, tailors and machinists, etc. Capital, £ISOO, in £1 shares. Subscribers: NormanAlexander Nai smith, William Worden Wills and Mabel Cynthia Naismith, 500 shares each. Ring Proprietary Company, Limited, manufacturers and sellers of veterinary medicines and preparations, etc. Capital, £I2OO, in £1 shares. Subscribers: William Charles Ring, 1075 shares; Ruby Monica Ring, 100 shares; Alan Rutherford Gorrie, 25 shares. The principal object of the company is to acquire and take over as a going concern from W. C. Ring, doctor of veterinary medicine, the solo right to manufacture and deal in, in New Zealand, certain veterinary medicines and preparations. ] Foloiisviilo-Aucklaiul 1 ransport, Limited, Helensville, carriers, delivery agents, garage proprietors, etc. Capital, £I2OO iii £1 shares. Subscribers: James Pengelly, 600 shares; Harold Bertram Keane, 590 shares; Mary Lllen Keane, 10 shares. New Zealand Incorporated Tobacco, Limited, tobacco planters, growers and manufacturers, etc. Capital, £7OO, in 2100 shares of 6s 8(1 each. Subscribers: John W. T. Macklow and Frank Binns, 600 shares each; Algernon P. W. Thomas, 300 shares; Frederick P. Worley, Joseph Wooller, Thomas L. Lancaster and Alice M. Bell, 150 shares each. James Savin and Company, Limited, real estate, land, commission and financial agents, etc. Capital, £6OO, in £1 shares. Subscribers: Samuel Francis Dickey, 590 shares; James Savin, 10 shares. BORING FOR OIL. [BY TEI.EGII APII. —PRKSS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Coal Oil (N.Z.), Limited, reports on (lie drilling operations at the Omata No. 1 bore, for the week ended . April 4, as follows:—"'Milled over drill stem to 2462 ft. Bottom length of lljjin casing aeain caused trouble. Pulled casing and found that this bottom length had parted."

TAXI .COMPANY'S EXPERIENCE. Directors of Yellow Calis (South Australia), Limited, in their report for the half-year ended December 31. state, that ilio economic, conditions which prevailed were reflected in the greatly reduced revenuo of the- company, and a. ncy loss was sustained in the period. Owing to tlie volume of business available, it bad been found necessary to curtail operations drastically, and the company was operating only 64 of its total fleet- of .100 cabs. Tho reduction in revenue, however, had been met by a greater reduction in total expondituro.