THE COMMONWEALTH.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17317, 1 December 1921, Page 8

THE COMMONWEALTH.

NEW SOUTH WAHBS "DBINK BILL." {By Cable—Press Association.—Copyrijht.j (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, November 80. The New South Wales Statistician reports that the "drink bill" for the year ended June 80th was over £16,000,000, or £5 5s 7d per head, which is 5s above the previous year. The increase is due to the high prices, as the aggregate quantity of liquor consumed was less than in the previous year. THE BTJSSIAN FAMINE. MELBOURNE, November SO. Replying in the Bouse of "Representatives to a question regarding the famine in Russia, the Prime Minister stated that the Commonwealth was contributing wheat, flour and meat of a lvalue of £50,000. PEICE OF BEE AD. V SYDNEY, SO. The master bakers have decided to reduce the price of bread from 7d to s£d per ,21b loaf, in consequence of flour supplies beuig obtainable in the open market. THE LAMBETH APPEAL. StDNEY, November SO. Archbishop Wright has approached the Federal heads of the non-episcopal churches with a view to holding an Australian conference to consider the Lambeth appeal for unity. A preliminary conference will be held on December 9th. STEEL WOEKS CLOSING. SYDNEY, November 80.; It is announced thbt the Broken Hill Company's steel worxs at Newcastle may close. Two section have already ceased operations, and 450 men have been paid off. If the whole works are closed 3000 employees will'be affected including those in subsidiary industries. , BYAN LIBEL ACTION, SYDNEY, November 30. The High Court ordered that the Puhlic Curator of Queensland, as executor of the late Mr T. J Ryan's estate, be made a.party to the action and appeal against the verdict in the libel case. Ryan V. the '.'Hobart Mercury." - PENSION INCREASED. SYDNEY, November 30. The Federal Government has increased Henry Lawson's tension from ?ne Men of Letters' Futfa 1 from £1 .to. £3 a week. Mr Lawson is recovering from a serious illness. A BIG CLAIM. MELBOURNE, November SO. Messrs Sydney Kidman and Joseph and Arthur Mayo have issued a wrist in the High Court claiming £BB,OOO from the Commonwealth for labour and materials in connexion with shipbuilding. MEMBEBS' SALARIES. , (Received November 30th, 9.45' p.m.) ADELAIDE, November 30. In the Legisltive. Assembly the Premier introduced a Bill to increase members' salaries from £2OO to £4OO 'per annum. THE PLAGUE SUSPECT. (Received December 15t,'12.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 30. The diagnosis' of the case of suspected plague admitted to hospital yesterday is still uncompleted.