AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Grey River Argus, 25 June 1946, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

LEATHER HOARDED By Speculators CANBERRA, June 24. The Commonwealth price fixing authorities will endeavour to check the hoarding of leather by gazetting an order to-day requiring all persons holding more than 5001 b of sole leather or more than 500 square feet of dressed leather to furnish a return of -Stocks held at June 30, 1946. As the export of leather is not permitted until domestic needs are met it is assumed that speculators are buying up stocks to exploit the overseas markets later. There is an unaccountable shortage of leather for boot manufacturers. Before the Queensland meat strike leather production was more than sufficient to meet the full requirements of the boot trade, but the leather was not reaching the manufacturers. Ship Short of Food BRISBANE, June 24. Food was rushed by launch to Moreton Bay yesterday to feed 43 starving sailors aboard the freighter Empire Copperfield (6000 tons) after news of their plight had been received by radio. The master had planned to take his eight-knot ship from Singapore to Sydney direct in 25 days, the only call being at Thursday Island. Rations deteriorated in the tropics and only meagre supplies of dried fruit, vegetables, preserved meat and cocoa were left. F'resh stores were unobtainable at Townsville because of waterfront disputes. After receiving supplies by launch the ship proceeded towards Sydney. BROADCASTING OF PARLIAMENT CANBERRA, June 24. Proceedings of the Australian Federal Parliament will not be broadcast this week as originally proposed, saps the Canberra correspondent of ihe Sydney Daily Telegraph. The Broadcasting Bill extending full privileges to speeches of members put on the air will not be passed through the House of Representativesin time.