SECOND EDITION. STAR OFFICE, 2.15 p.m. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2732, 1 June 1915, Page 3

SECOND EDITION. STAR OFFICE, 2.15 p.m. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

BY EIiEOTRIO TELEGBAPH.—COPYEIGHT.

PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. Melbourne. June 1. The price of milk has been raised to Is 8d per gallon. Fremantle, June 1. A Japanese training .squadron has arrived here, and will visit the Commonwealth ports. Admiral Chisaki., in command, is of opinion that Japan .will not be required to send troops to Europe; but, if the necessity _ arises, she will send men and munitions or war, and carry out the spirit of her alliance. JAPAN IS HEADY IF WANTED. Sydney, June 1. Mr KnoXj in reply to the Hon. Mr Hughes' statement of the sugar position, says that the Colonial Sugar. Co. wrote to Premier Holman five weeks ago pointing out a probable shortage, and Mr Holman replied that he deemed it necessary to see into the matter. Subsequently a series of_let-_ ters were exchanged and interviews took place, but the company was still without any official confirmation of the understanding to purchase Japan sugar to the value of £250,000. He never proposed or said anything in favour of revision of the duty.

Mr Kuox's reply traverses Mr Hughes' statement, that the company was aware that there would be a shortage and could have averted it, and adds that not till April 20 was the company aware of the fact, and informed Premier Holman on the 20th. The 300 tons of sugar were sold to Canada on March 12, before the shortage was apparent. The company will now have to import sugar at £4 per ton above what Canada paid. Mr Knox admits that probably the company could have bought at less than it was paying for the Javan sugar if the New South Wales and the Federal Governments had taken the warnings seriously and not delayed negotiations. Dealing with Mr Hughes' statement that the handling of imported sugars was one of the company's chief sources of gain, Mr Knox declares that the margin of profit was very small. He had 'informed Mr Holman that the company expected 4 per cent, profit on the Javan sugar in bond, whilst the distributing "trade, received from tho company 6 per cent, discount merely for selluiy the sugar. He denies that any trader or manufacturer was ever debarred from buying the company's sugars at list prices and disco nuts. Melbourne, June 1.

A meeting of officers in the Stat-e service decided to adopt and follow the. King's movement. Victoria's revenue for the past 11 months decerased by £422,G01: Brisbane, June 1.

Mr Deuluun, on leaving office, made a statement to the press that one cause of the Liberal'defeat was the attitude of the public service on not receiving increases owing to the-war. Another cause was tho unfounded utterances regarding tho responsibility of the Liberals for the high cost of living. Two members had offered to resign in his favour, but ho had deaided at present to stand out of Parliament.