AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1716, 6 January 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright, Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. SYDNEY. Jan. 5. Owing to tire increased railway freights imposed at the beginning of the year the Hoskins Lithgow Iron Works have stopped, throwing idle 750 employees. The railway commissioners are considering a readjustment of freights, failing which over 1000 will be idle. Owing to the arrival of inter-Stato ship; ments, the price of potatoes has dropped £2 per ton. There have been further torrential rams in the coastal and highland districts. Inland districts have benefited to a less extent. ' Received January 6, 10.55 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 6. The Government Statistician estimates the population of the State was 1,984,389 to the end of September and as at the average rate of increase the second million mark has now boon passed, it means there will be a redistribution of seats in the House of Representatives provided by the constitution, whereby New South Wales will gain one scat at the expense of Victoria. The Hoskins Company has closed all the iron works at Lithgow and elsewhere, rendering 3000 people' idle, and unless the increases in freight are suspended it will be impossible to reopen them. . BRISBANE, Jan. 6. The go slow strike at Townsville cabled on December S has ended.