AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 16 May 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

QUEENSLAND'S FRUIT. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAI'E. COPYRIGHT. PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received May Hi, 10.55 a.m. BRISMAXF. May hi. A Royal Commission on the Fruit l'idustry lias commenced its sittings. Mr Foster (chairman) stated tliat lie thought the time had come when the ; Federal Government should take hold of all production with a view to giving I hotter facilities for marketing at homo . and abroad. I Witnesses declared that the opposition, of Chinese gardeners and the importation from Fiji made the growing of bananas unprofitable. LOYAL MINERS. Received May 10, 10.55 a.m. j SYDXKY, May 10.. I A ballot of the- Broken Hiil members ■of the Amalgamated Miners' Association whether they were in favor of retaining the Defence Act or not resultj ed as follows:—Yes, ll'il, no, 95(5. j A proposal to pay the costs of memi hers refusing to comply with the Act ■ was overwhelmingly defeated. NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS. Received Mav .10. 10.55 a.m. SYDXKY, May 10. Mr Booby (Minister for Lands) has accused Mr Wade (Opposition loader) of political dishonesty in connection with a recent speech in which Mr Wade attacked the Government's Land Act. UNION OF CHURCHES. Received Mav 10. 11,10 a.m. SYDXKY, -May 10. The Presbyterian Assembly has coni eluded its deliberations. I Regarding the question of th;> union I of churches an amendment was carried I disapproving of the clauses regarding i the appointment of ministers and it was decided to forward the amendment to the General Assembly of Australia without committing itself to a scheme ! of policy as a whole. | Received May 16, 10,10 a.m. MKIdIOURXK, May 10. The. Presbyterian Assembly agreed to urge the union of churches. | Tlie committee- recommended the ali lowance of the scheme of settlement in j tonuro of pastoral office at present in i operation in the Presbyterian Church to I remain as an alternative to the scheme ! embodied in the proposals.