AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2472, 27 May 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

•> (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) If LABOUR AWARDS IN WAR TIME. relaxing"!" rule. Sydney, May 26. In the Arbitration Court, Mr. Justice Heydon, dealing with an application by the Railway Engineers' and Firemen's Association for increased wages, referred to a rule of the Court that applications which impose additional burdens on the community were not to be made 'by public servants at present, excepting in special circumstances. He had oonie to the conclusion. that the present condition of the community no longer supplied a sufficient reason for continuing the rule. "The effect of the war on tho financial and economic position of individual members of the community does not appear to bo as great as was feared. Trade is reviving, and the pastoral and agricultural outlook is bright, as is instanced by the fact that in spite of so many other calls, record Belgian and Hospital Day collections have been made." RESTRICTIONS ON SALE OP LIQUOR. BILL IN VICTORIAN ASSEMBLY. Melbourne, May 26. In the Victorian State Assembly, during the discussion on the Temperance Restrictions Act, Mr. Farthing said that the Australians were the most sober people of the progressive parts of the world. The teetotal party was using the tense feeling caused by the war to get a shortening of hours, and finally the abolition of the hotels. Tho Bill would not stop drinking, but would drive trade into illegitimate channels. MELBOURNE'S POUND OF BUTTER. FURTHER INCREASE SANCTIONED. (Rec. May 26, 9 p.m.) Melbourne, May 26. The Commodities Commission has favourably replied to the trade's request for a further increase in the price of butter. The advance will bo fixed later. FEELING IN SYDNEY. (Rec. May 26, 7.30 p.m.) Sydney, May 26. Disgruntled butter buyers doclare that supplies are being secretly stored, because the merchants expect the Government to advance the price. There is more truth probably in the claim that the curtailment of supplies is duo to the advent of an early winter, the conditions lessening the cream production. The weather lately has been very cold. ITEMS IN BRIEF. . ADELAIDE WATER. SUPPLY STILL SHORT. o. Adelaide, May 26. t- 'Although the recent rains havo aiigmerited the water supply, the metro-' "• politan water supply still shows a deficiency of 600,000,000 gallons as compared with last year. PAPER COMPANY'S BUILDING GUTTED. Sydney, May 26. The six-storied building of the Aus|j~ tralian Paper Company has been gutted by fire. Several adjacent buildings were £ damaged.