AUSTRALIAN ITEM'S.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 765, 30 December 1908, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEM'S.

[B_ JBLECTEIO TE_EGIIAPH — COPfUWHf j [PBB PEESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received Deoember 30, 10.50 a.m.) RURAL RETURNS. Melbourne, Dec. 30. Returns for the year 'show a large decrease in rural poducts. Tike value of dairy products exported was lees by **bt>_,oUo than in 1906. SHIPPING. Sailed— Moeraki, for the Blulf. TO PROHIBIT PUGILISM. Sydney, December 30. Cabinet will , shortly consider the. question of prohibiting pugilistic encounters such as that between Johnson and Burns, which took place on ' Saturday. TROUBLE WITH MINERS OVER WAGES. The oomluned Trades and Labour Unions of Broken Hill have decided that the existence of a lock-out in the Proprietary mine will be recognised as from to-morrow nigbt. This decision was also made to apply to all otber companies attempting to reduce wages. BOYCOTTING' THE BANANA. The s.s Muaua brings news that banana shippers iv Fiji have started "■ a boycott. They refuse to sell or ship bananas by tbe Manapouri for Dunedin, the immediate oause being the diifereuce in 7_ and 10 per cent, commission charged by Dunedin fruit commission agents on Fiji produce. A telegram irom Dunedin says: In explanation of the Fijian boycott of Dunedin, local fruit merchants state it can have no effect on the. market, supplies, or prices, as the direct service from Rarotonga and Tonga will come into operation on January 3. It is suggested tnat the increase" of commission effected by Dunedin fruit brokers will be adopted at aii early date throughout Hew Zealand; Next month the local demand for ba* uanas will be limited, owing to the heavy crop of soft fruits, in Otago, which are already being; plaoed on the market.