AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 17604, 8 March 1921, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

BANK CLERK ARRESTED. Proa* A**ociaL«n—By Telegraph—Oopjrisirt Australian and K.Z, Cable Association. MELBOURNE, March 7. Cyril Sidboltom, teller of the Bank of New Zealand, reported to the police that ho overlooked £I,BOO of his cash on Saturday, and as the strong room was closed ho took it home. Early on tSunday he was awakened by two armed masked men, who secured the money and decamped. Later Sidbottom was charged with stealing £2,129, the property of the bank. NEW SOUTH WALES FLOUR, SYDNEY, March 8. (Received March 8, at 11.5 a.m.) The Hon. W. F. Dunn, Minister of Agriculture, referring to the flour mills, explained that no flour was being gristed, as already the supply for local consumption was over-gristed, and no orders wore arriving from overseas to con niter balance this, except from the Egyptian contract with New South Wales, which will shortly keep the mills at work. The Minister scouts the suggestion that a reduced export rate would entail increased business, as the question of freight to the East is the real stumbling block, America's rates, being 05s to £2, as against £3 to £3 10s from Australia, Furthermore, the Chinese rice crops are no longer a failure, and the Queensland harvest being in excess of requirements the demand for New South Wales flour has proportionately declined, with a consequent slackening of work in the mills. NORTH SHORE TRAGEDY. SYDNEY, March 8. (Revived March 8, at 11.30 a.m.) Wilfred Ernest Coley has been commited for trial on a charge of wilful murder by the Coroner’s Court in connection with tho_iuquest on Gertrude M‘Grath, the victim of the North Sydney tragedy on December 24. A CHARGE OF THEFT, SYDNEY, March a (Received March 8, at 11.30 a.m.) Ronald Bourne- lias been committed for trial on a charge of stealing £260 from Oldfield, the well-known crickcuer. The latter in his evidence explained that be was introduced to Bourne by ono of the English cricketers in Melbourne. Subse>qaeutlv Oldfield met him in Sydney, where they chscussed the question of agencies. Bourne promised to engage him at £6OO per annum on his return from the English tour. Ho then offered to convert notes into gold in Melbourne, whereupon £260 was 'bonded over. Oldfield declined to answer a question whether bo lent _ the accused a railway pass. Bourne explained that if ho had not been arrested ho would have fulfilled his promise. SYDNEY’S MILK SUPPLY. SYDNEY, March a (Received March. 8, at 11-o0 a.m.) Mr Justice Eeehy, president of the Profiteering Prevention Court, refused a request by the distributing companies to increase the price of the consignors’ milk by per quart. Ho added that he would not bo influenced by an act of intimidation by any section of the community. He also stated that the Is 2d. per gallon_ to the producer included. 3d per gallon, which was allowed when drought conditions pre/ vailed.