AUSTRALIAN MEASURES

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1939, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN MEASURES

CONVERSION OF FACTORIES [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] ... ... SYDNEY, October 31. „ AH Australian factories are now liable to be compulsorily devoted to State use, and for war purposes. They may be ordered to change their output to goods for war purposes. All defence orders must get priority over any others.

Kerosene prices will go up a halfpenny per gallon to-morrow, due to higher, transport and other costs, and later the increase may be greater. The export is prohibited from Australia of black galvanised iron, steel pipes, and other iron and steel articles except by Ministerial consent, in order to conserve Australia’s supplies. Wool appraised to-day-'at Brisbane was priced at 20d per lb. for greasy and 27d per pound-for best quality, .out of 12,540 bales. 1 DRASTIC POWERS TAKEN ..... . ■ .. CANBERRA, November 1. Drastic powers virtually to commandeer the services of Australian ■factories are taken'by the Commonwealth • Government in the new national security regulations, which empower- the Minister’for Supply to declare any-goods or commodities as being essential for" National purposes. Once any class of goods has been so declared;' the Ministry may call upon any persons owning such goods to deliver them immediately, for defence purposes. ’ ,