AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18412, 19 May 1920, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press AsßOcifttion—Copyrigk*. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, May 17. The Presbyterian Assembly decided to erect an assembly hall and church offices in the city as a peace thanksgiving memorial, at a' cost of £50,009. Tho Minors' Federation, in an official announcement, states that there will be no general upheaval in tho coal-min-ing industry. Tho present agreement is expiring at the end of tho yearAt a meeting of flourmillers called to discuss the wheat shortage, it was stated that farmers were unablo to obtain bran for their horses, cattlo and poultry. Tho industry was on the verge of collapse. The stocks of wheat ut the mills average one week's supply. The meeting sent a message to Mr Hughe 8 that unloss supplies were maintained throughout the year tho result would be disastrous to tho dairying and poultry industries.

Mr Storey, tho Premier, has circularised the "heads of churches suggesting daily prayers for rain. The butter shortage is aouto as the result of the dry spell. Grocers are only able to procure 33 per cent of the orders.

Both the and tho Methodist General Assemblies are confronted with a serious shortage of men offering for tho ministry. Ono of the chief causes is said to bo tho war, which besides drawing students to tho front interfered with tho training of others. As regards the Presbyterians it was stated that tho war had broken the church-going habit of many young men, also the mental and physical strain of war years had caused exhaustion and consequent loss of ministerial candidates, but it was hoped that lost ground would soon be recovered, fhe Methodist conference decided to meet the shortage bv importing from England fliirty-avo ex-service theological, unmarried students. As regards tho immigration bureau it was decided to seek the co-operation of other churches in the scheme, including a possible arrangement with the Now Zealand Methodist conference.

Students' doings on Commemoration Day have brought about their ears a great public outcry in tho Press. The opinion is very generally expressed thatsome of the displays far exceeded the bounds of pronriotv. MELBOURNE. May 18. The Government has decided to grant licenses for the importation of indispensable articles manufactured in Germany.

Tho Chamber of Commerce passed a motion protesting against the proposed increase of salaries for members of the Houso of Representatives. ADELAIDE, May 18. A deputation of coal consumers, asking the Premier to make a movo to relieve the coal shortage caused by tho shortage of shipping on the coast, stated that the gas company had supSlios for only six days, and that if the I-ailway Department had not made special arrangements to procure coal, all public services and industrial concerns would have been paralysed- Tho Premier promised action.