AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2569, 17 September 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

UNIVERSAL SERVICE . MR, WADE SUPPORTS THE MOVEMENT. By Teleerauli—Prc6a Association—Oopjrlflii Sydney, September 16. Mr. Wade, Leader of tho Opposition ill tlio Stale Parliament, is siipporting tho Universal Service League. Ho says: "For tho time being party linos and party tics must bo entirely effaced. It Is too lato to argue against universal service in Australia; tho principlo has been adopted for a number of years, and tho present movemont is simply on extension of it. It has been found that voluntary effort fails when tho strain is greatest. If m t c wait six months it will bo'too late, and wo will then pay the poualty for our misguided timidity. Tho public mind must be educated to a senso of tho gravity of the position. Tho appeal is to the whole of Australia and to all kinds of classes. Tho movement has no political significance." WOMEN'S HELP INVITED. Sydney, September 16. Tho Universal Service' League invites the co-operation of women. It'explains that the movement is not intended for men only; the women have as vital an interest in universal service as the men. Public meetings havo been called. STATE LOANS AMERICAN MARKET SOUNDED; Melbourne, September 16. It is understood that several States sounded the American money market as to the possibility of loans. Tho results were disappointing owing to fear of international complications. The idea of raising money in America has since been abandoned. STATE CORNER, IN METALS DALGETY'S APPOINTED BUYERS." Melbourne, September 16. , A proclamation has bean issued stating that tho Commonwealth has entered into an agreement with the Imperial .Government for a period of twelve months' to acquire on its behalf all the molybdenite, scliee'ite, and wolfram produced. Dalgety's have been appointed as agents in the transactions. _ Arrangements have been made to seize all stocks which are withheld. .

[Molybdenite is an ore of molybdennum; scheelite and wolfrain are respectively calcium tungstate and iron-manga-nese-tungstate, and are sources of tungsten. Molybdenum and tungsten are metals of great value in the manufacture of the very hard and tough steels used in munition-making, both for material and for tools for working the steel.] BAD BUSINESS. STATE FODDER DEAL A HEAVY LOSS. Sydney, September 16. The Government-is a heavy loser on | its fodder importation scheme. Many thousands of tens of American chaff imported at a cost of nearly £14 per ton" are now selling at about £4. ADVERTISEMENTS OF ENEMY GOODS. NEWSPAPERS FORBIDDEN TO .INSERT. Melbourne, September 16. ■' Tho Federal Attorney-General (Mr. W. M. 'Hughes) has notified the Press that the Government will not permit the circulation of newspapers inserting advertisements of enemy, goods. MILITARY'OFFICERS' PAY, THE PRUNING KNIFE IN FEDERAL FORCES. Melbourne, September 16. • \ The authorities have decided to reduce the: pay of military officers called up for administrative and instructional duties. A colonel's salary will be reduced, from £821 to £675, and pthers accordingly. Field allowances will remain tlio same. A CORPS OF MASSEURS. ' Melbourne, September 16. A novel military unit—the. Australian Army Massage.; R-ceerve—is being formed. ' '■ QUEENSLAND AVAR- COUNCIL. Brisbane, September 16. Arrangements are being ma.de for the formation of a War Council similar to those in the other States. Queensland is to be asked to supply 2200 recruits monthly. DOMINANT NOTE, ECONOMY. - i WEST AUSTRALIAN FINANCE. (R-ec. September 16, 10 p.m.)Perth, September 16. The Premier (Mr. Scadden) states that the estimated revenue for the current year is £5,504,259, and the expenditure £5,746,146. The dominant note of the Government's policy will be economy. The existing loans will only carry on public works till the end of November. None but urgent works will be started or continued, but there will te vo reckless cutting down of men in Government employment. AUSTRALIA'S. FOOD SUPPLIES. THE NATIONAL STOCK-TAKING. (Rec. September 16, 10.25 p.m.) Melbourne, September 16. In connection with the national stocktaking, a table has been prepared showing that on July 31 Australia held m co'd storage 32,958,0001b5. of beef; 4.027,0001b. of niutotn; 1,893,0001b. of lamb;' and 8,299,0001b. of preserved meat. . Regarding tho butter supply, it is estimated that from 30 to 40 per cent, of dairy cattle have been lost during the drought period. There will be an ample supply of bnttor for the homo market, but little for export. A considerable shortage- of cheese is certain. FOOD PRICES.IN SYDNEY. (Rec. September 16, 10.25 p.m.) Sydney, September 16. , The Government statistician shows that the price of meat in Sydney in August was 5l per cent., and other food and groceries- 25 per cent, above the prices in July, of last year, whilo the prices last month were 9.6 per cent, above tho previous month. COMPULSOR Y CONFERENCE FOR THE MINERS. (Ivec. September 16, 10.25 p.m.) Sydney, September 16. Th'e miners' demands for increased wages, which led to thoir notice of the termination of their agreements, range from 10 to 33 per cent. Tiioy will bo referred to a compulsory conference. CERMANS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE AGITATION FOR REMOVAL. (Reo. September 16, 11.10 p.m.) Sydney, September 16. There is a strong and growing movement against tho retention of Germans in tho Public Service. Public speakers and correspondents in the newspapers are pressing the Government to act. Tho Local Government .Conference lias resolved to urge the Premier te retire from the Public Service all persons - of German descent. CONSCRipTION OF EFFORT. WHAT NATIONAL SERVICE MEANS. (Rec. September 16, 10.25 p.m.) Sydney, September 16. Tho Vice-President of the State Legislative Council, in replying in the House to criticisms of the Government, said

that the Government believed in coiw scription—that was to conscription for the purpose of organising the whole of the forces and wealth of the nations; and the strength and eoul of the nation. Mr. Holman (tho Premier) was participating in such an organisation in defiance of the wishes of many influential men of his own party. THE MINERS' CORPS. (Rec. September 16, 10.25 p.m.)' Melbourne, September 16. Tho acceptance of a Miners' Corps by the Imperial Government is the outcome of General Sir George Birdwood's appreciation of the successful work of the Australian miners attached to the Expeditionary Forces. The corps will include geologists, mining engineers, and other specialists. OFFER FROM THE ROYAL SOCIETY* . (Rec. September 16, 10.25 p.m.) Sydnoy, September 16. , The Royal Society has offered its services to tho Government in connection: with the manufacture of munitions and' other scientific matters arising out of the war. NEWS IN BRIEF. GERMAN WITH REVOLVER AND AMMUNITION. (Rec. September 16, 11.20 p.m.) Bydnoy, September 16. The German, Behrann, who was fined for having a revolver and ammunition in his possession, has, on a further charge of having a revolver and thirty rounds of ammunition in his possession, been fined £100, and also sentenced to sis months' hard labour. OBITUARY. (Rec. September 16,11.10 p.m.) Melbourne, September 16. Obituary—Doctor Joseph Higgins Roman Catholic Bishop of Ballarat, (for*, merly Bishop of Rockhampton, and Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal Moran). PORK AND BACON. (Rec. September 17, 1.40 a.m.). Sydney, September 16. . The Commodities Commission has fixed the retail price of pork at Is. per i lb., and Taised the price of bacon-by. Id. per lb. DAY BAKING IN VICTORIA. Melbourne, September 16. 'A ballot taken throughout Victoria r&< suited in a large majority of the bakera favouring day baking, and also declining to work with alien enemies during the war. PRODUCE PRICES IN QUEENSLAND Brisbane, September 16 The price of flour in the southern districts has been fixed at £20 75., bran at . £5, and pollard at £6.