AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9498, 23 April 1921, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Per Press Association Copyrfght.)

MELBOURNE, April 22

In the House of Representatives, Mr T. J. Ryan -(Labour) moved an amendment to Mr Hughes's formal motion regarding the Imperial Conference, that the Australian 'representative be not permitted to commit th^ Commonwealh to any policy without the same being subject to ratification by Parliament and the people. The debate is proceeding. Mr Hughes, m announcing the ' details of the subjects to be dealt -frith at the Imperial Conference, said he had suggested that the matter of communication between the various parts of the Empire should be added to the agenda paper. The Miniser of Customs stated that m view of the fact that Australian production -was not advancing as rapidly as' anticipated, the duty on a number of articles, including iron and steel manufactures, which was to have come into operation shortly, has been deferred

The House of Representatives discussed the export of defective wheat and flour to South Africa and other goods to England and the East., Mr Hughes stating that a large quantity of wheat and flour sent to South Africa turned out unfit for human consumption, even the Kaffirs refusing to eat it. 'The people responsible would be called upon to pay compensation. There were other instances of products m which Atistralia excelled being exported m bad condition, and the Government might be forced to publish the names of the firms concerned.

SYDNEY, April 22

The price of wheat for flour for export to South Africa, the East, and the South Sea,, Islands has been reduoed by 6d a bushel. (The last quotation was 7s 6d per bushel, on April 9.) Eggs are selling at the record price of 3s lOd per dozen wholesale. Commenting on a statement made at a fire inquiry that insurance companies 7 paid £1,000,000 for fires throughout Australia during the past three months, the manager of one of the companies said that the number of fires was causing companies anyipty. An element of suspicion surrounded many,' but there was difficulty m getting direct evidence. Amongst other theories advanced m explanation of the Guyra mystery is one by Mr H. J. Moors, a prominent Samoan merchant and a biographer of Robert Louis Stevenson, who is also an interested enquirer into things suggesting spirit manifestations. After careful investigations on the spot, he attributes the happenings at Guyra to Poltergeist, a German term for "racketing spirit." Mi- Moors supn ports this contention with ancient' and modern instances of performances of these "Hun raeketers."

(Received April 23, 10.35 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. In the House of Representatives, Mr Ryan's amendment was defeated by 24 to 51.

ADELAIDE, This Day. Mr Barwell, the Premier, addressing a deputation of the wheat milling trade, said the Government would oppose a continuation of Ithe wheat pool for another year and would not sanction the reference of a requisition to farmers by referendum, but m consequence of other States remaining m the pool and countries preferring to deal direct with pools, it was decided to postpone the final decision for the present.