Empire Outposts.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 273, 3 November 1916, Page 5

Empire Outposts.

AUSTRALIA. i THE COALMINERS’ STRIKE. CONFERENCE ENDS IN A i DEADLOCK. | [AUSTRALIAN ANU N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] | Sydney, Nov. The coal conference reached a deadlock on the definition of the term “bank to bank.'- miners' de 1 ega te s wit hdrew. COUNTER DEMANDS. | [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] London, Nov. 2. The South Wales coal-owners are demanding a reduction of 10 per cent, in wages. The miners have already demanded a 15 per cent, increase. VICTORIAN STATE MINES CLOSED. .-.MX I4N <NI> N.Z i'Mil.b ».SSN (Received 3, 11.5 a.m.) Melbourne, Nov. 3. The State coalminers have ceased work in sympathy with other strikers. SETTLEMENT NOT IN SIGHT. TRANSPORTS NOT AFFECTED. i aUSTK IAN »N<> N.Z ••Al'ir.K ASSN. I (Received 3, 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 3. All prospects of a speedy termination of the coal strike are dissipated. It is expected to-day that everv colliery in the. Eastern States will be idle. Already the shipping at Newcastle is paralysed and the trouble has spread to Lithgow, where a thousand men are idle. ; A gratifying feature is that transports.will not suffer. The authorities, anticipating the trouble, had secured large supplies. THE I.W.W.S. TREASON CHARGES ALTERED TO CONSPIRACY. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.] : (Received 3, 9.35 a.m.) ! Sydney, Nov. 3. The Crown law authorities have altered the treason charges against twelve members of the I. W.W. to conspiracy to defeat the ends of justice, commit arson, and promote sedition. BROKEN HILL DEVELOPMENT. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z UABI.B ABSN.j (Received 3, 9.35 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 3. The Broken Hill Proprietary Company are floating a £400,000 loan, the balance of the £1,000,000 loan authorised, to provide further extensions of Newcastle iron and steel works. The Commonwealth Bank is the principal underwriter.

MUNITIONS SHORTAGE A THING OF THE PAST. [AUSTH VLIAfr VM> N.Z (MIU.F ASSN. I (Received 3, 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 3. Mr. H. E. Pratten, ex-president of the Chamber of Commerce, has returned after a year’s absence. Speaking of the munitions campaign in England, he said that in addition to immense new Government arsenals there are over 4000 Slatecontrolled munition factories, _ and many thousands of others. Nearly four million workers were directly engaged in munition-making. One arsenal employed 30,000 women. The organisation was such that shortage could never again be experienced. Referring to the duration of the war, he remarked . that, Germany was nominally self-contained, and he did not think the end would be brought about by shortage of food, but by military operations a\>:ie. The general opinion in England is that Lord Kitchener's estimate of three years will not be exceeded. SOFT TACK AT NIGHT. UTSTBAMAb N.Z. t IHI.F wV I (Received 3, 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 3. The Legislative Council has amended the Liquor Bill l-> permit publicans to sell non-intoxicating drinks from six to eleven o’clock. NOTES FROM VARIOUS STATES The South Australian Government Statistician reports that the agricultural season is most favourable. He estimates the wheat yield at 11 i bushels to the acre, totalling twenty-eight to thirty millions. (Received 3, 9.35 a.m.) In the South Australian Assembly, the Treasurer moved taxation proposals similar to those which the Council rejected last year, providing for an increase of Ad 111 £1 011 the land tax, and the reduction _of income tax exemption from dffiuO to £156 on incomes. . AUHTBAIJA* ,Nl> N.Z. CAHI.K ASSN. I A New Zealand Soldiers’ Reception Association has been formed with the object of entertaining returned New Zealanders passing through Sydney. In the Queensland Assembly the Budget was delivered. It provides for additional income tax and this is expected to realise £160,000. THE REFERENDUM. SMALL “AFFIRMATIVE” GAIN. Sydney, Nov. 2. The “No” majority is the lowest yet received, viz., 79,286. [ GERMAN CONCLUSIONS. [AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSN.j Amsterdam, Nov. .2. The “Frankfurter Zeitung” in, a propagandist article, foreseeing the partition of the South Seas, declares that none of Australia’s war aims as regards the possession of the islands of the Pacific will be fulfilled. Australia’s voice will not be heard at the peace conference, and Australia will not have the slightest influence on Englands decisions. Yet England is compelled to rely more than ever on her oversea possessions.