GENERAL CABLES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 1 April 1918, Page 5

GENERAL CABLES.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

"• '"AB'S—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.) PERTH, March 30.

The report of the commission enquiring into the cost of living states that' freights and insurances are five times and the cost of textiles three and a half times greater than before the war. The commission recommends the diversion of excess profits to the 1 State and increased direct taxation on all surplus incomes.

MELBOURNE, March 30. A war precautions regulation for the suppression of the Sinn Feiners and other disloyal movements against the Empire has been gazetted. It contains very stringent provisions, and prohibits all written or vocal advocacy, the displaying of any flags, badges, or symbols of any country with which the King is at war, or of any body or association which is disaffected in the Empire, or of the society or movement known as Sinn Feiners.

. SYDNEY, March 29. The Governor-General, on behalf of the Commonwealth, has cabled to the Secretary of State for the Colonies his high admiration of the valor and heroism of the troops engaged in the titanic struggle, and his confidence in the securing of victory.

Mr Hughes.. in a message on behalf of the Government, also reaffirms Australia's unshaken determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Empire to the end.