AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 25, 29 January 1921, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

(RecolTO.-! 10.30 a.m.) ENGLISHMEN AT GEELONG. MELBOURNE, tins day. The English cricketers liave begun a two days' matc'.i against a (ieelong fifteen at Geelong. Kngland, batting made 457—Rhodes 6S, Makepeare OS, Waddinjfton 53.

COMHOKWEALTH CENSUS. SYDNEY, this day. | Arrangements arc being completed tor ( the taking of the ten year census on ' April 4.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) j , KILLED BY CARELESS CANNERS SYD&EY, this day. ! . Mr. L. H. Freemun. chief partner in tlie firm of l'o., of London, . big buyers of canned goods, states that , careless and indiiTerent methods of the . packer? a.nd canners were killing the ' Australian export trade in canned and . preserved fruit. Tiierp was a glut of ■ ripe fruit at present, hundreds of tons ■ . going to the tip daily, or rotting in the - orchards, and there wa~s not a single ex- . ' port order in Australia at present. , : whereas there should be orders for from , I 300.000 to 400.000 cases. He urged the \ grading of goods true to sample, so that '< they reached the retailer in an attrae- , 1 tive and marketable condition. — (A. and , i N.Z. Cable.) j , I . I i ELECTORAL REFORM. i I I _ SYDNEY, this day. • The Ministerial party favours proper-1 tional reresentation by three one, and \ is now taking a ballot to ascertain the | I views of the mm tMrs who are absent. If I the full party favours proportional repre-. sentation it will he necessary to revoke' the last Labour Conference decision ! before retaining the present system. — (A- ' land N.Z. Cable.) ' |

DAVIS CTTP MEN SAIL. SYDNEY, January 2S. The American tennis players, W. T. Tilden and W. M. Johnston, have sailed for home by the Ventura. They made appreciative references to their treatment in New Zealand and Australia. Tilden said it had been a pleasure to play with such fine sportsmen, and Johnston remarked: "You overwhelmed us with your wonderful hospitality."—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

LAST SHEFFIELD SHIELD MATCH, SYDNEY, January 23. In the final match of tlie Sheffield Shield competition, New South Wales rrfeated Victoria by six wickets and one run. Victoria mtde 17G in the first inninss and 331 in the second innings—-I-iddicutt 26, Ryder (not out) 135. Gregory took' two wickets for 513 runs, Mailey four for Sfi. and Hendry tliree for 50. New South Wales made 43 3in the first inninsrs and 75 for four wickets in the second innines..— (A. and N.Z.) Armstrong heads thp Ms* - n th< = Sheffield Sliield batting, his average beinsr 132. Bardsley's is 108. Mailey heads tne bowling with 26 wickets for 404 runs, an average or 15$; Liddicutt took 12 for 190, an average of i 5 4-5: and Armstrong seven for lIS, an average of 16 4-5. — (A. and N.Z. Gable.) PINEAPPLE GROWERS HELPED. BRISBANE, this day. The Minister of State Enterprises has announced that pineapple growers will be guaranteed 5/ per case for approved pines. The Commonwealth is financing the scheme.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

In Queensland it sometimes happens that the pineapple market becomes glutted, and choice fruit is sold in the streets of Brisbane for less than one shillinjr per dozen, anil pi? growers buy beautiful pines for five shillings per cartload. XumDers or returned soldiers who went on the land under the repatriation scheme are faced with serious financial loss owing to the unsteady market. Successful representations have apparently been made to the (rovemment to stabilise the market by arranging for large canning operations when there is a plentiful supply of fruit.

Commenting upon money, the markets, ' and the business situation generally, "Commerce Monthly," of New York, for January states: "The controlling and outstanding factor to-day is the rela- ! tively small movement of raw materials j and manufactured goods, even at reduced ; prices. Tflis is because stocks of good 3 in the hands of retailers are sufficient ' to meet the needs of a somewhat less- j ened demand of the consuming public. ' Consumers are restricting their buying in ! part because of some curtailment of their i purchasing power, but even more, because j of a willingness to wait until retail i prices reflect the lower levels of primary : prices. Improvement of 6usiness activity awaits adjustment of retail prices to a level satisfactory to the public."