BIRDWOOD'S COMMAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 145, 19 June 1918, Page 5

BIRDWOOD'S COMMAND.

HEAD OF AW ARMY GROUP. (Received 10.23 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Senator Pearce (Minister of Defence) announced that the change of command of the Australian forces on the west front was due to General Birdwood receiving temporary- command of an army.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) HOURS OF MANUAL WORKERS SUGGESTED LIMIT OF _4^A WEEK. ■ '- ■ "\ •(Received 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, June IS. Tlie Boilermakers' Society will submit a resolution to the Trades Congress limiting the hours of manual workers to 44 a week, also that systematic overtime be declared illegal, ■j'he Parliamentary Committee will be instructed to introduce a bill on these lines.— (A. and N.Z.) SWEDISH SHIPPING PACT. ALLIES SECURE 400,000 TONS. LONDON, June 18. The Press Bureau states that the Swedish Government has ratified the agreement entered into at London*, by which the Allies secure the services of Swedish shipping to the extent of 400,000 tons deadweignt. Credits have been arranged for the Allies in Sweden.' The export of Swedish iron ore will be regulated as between the belligerent groups. The import of Swedish paper and pulp into Britain will be arranged under certain conditions. The Allies, on their part, are to facilitate the importation of stipulated quantities .of foodstuffs and other commodities required for Sweden's trade and industries, subject to control, with, guarantees against re-export of the imported articles themselves or any of their products or similar articles. (A. and N.Z. Cable.)