AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17342, 31 December 1921, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

WITHDRAWAL OP ENGLISH COIN. . (By Cabls—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, December 80. Negotiations have been reopened with the Imperial authorities for the further withdrawal of English silver coin in circulation in Australia. Before the war it was withdrawn to the extent of £IOO,OOO per annum. The withdrawals ceased in 1915, owing to there being an insufficient supply .of. Australian coins, which have now increased. CRIPPLING N.S.W. INDUSTRIES. SYDNEY, December 80. Statistics show that Victoria and other States are exporting iron and steel into New South Wales at the expense of the latter's industries, which are stated to be crippled by the high wages and shorter* hours ruling. From July to December, 1919, the importations amounted to 555 tons, and they increased to 1145 tons during the same period of 1921. NEW HEBRIDES. MELBOURNE, December 80. The proposal made to the Federal Government to acquire a considerable area in the New Hebrides from a French land company has been definitely dropped. In view of the opposition shown when the matter was before Parliament. the Prime Minister, Mr W. M. Hughes, did not press it, and allowed the session to end without proceeding further with it. SYDNEY TRAMWAY TRATFIC. j SYDNEY, December 30. The figures for the tramways traffic during the Christmas holidays disclose a falhng-off in fares amounting to ; £4384. . I • I