AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 11 October 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, this Day. Obituary—Richard Sloath, a member of the Assembly in 1892. A representative deputation waited on the Oversea Shipping Representatives’ Association, and asked for a reduction in freights on pastoral produce between Australia and the United Kingdom, pointing to the fact that freights between New Zealand and Britain were cheaper than from Australia.

•Mr J. B. Milne, spokesman for,the Shipping Association, explained that reduction rested with the owners of the ships, not with the Association. The difference between New Zealand and Australian rates was influenced by the facts that the New Zealand coast line was shorter and loading could be accomplished in less time. New Zealand steamers shipped for United Kingdom ports, while Australian called at Continental ports. All kinds of produce was of less value, wages were lower, and port dues louver. The Coal Tribunal ordered the whole of the South Coast mines to be reopened immediately and the miners to resume on pre-stoppage conditions._ The Government is introducing legislation this week to take the place of the Profiteering Act. The new Act is designed to protect people against the activities of combines, trusts, and monopolies. Penalties for offences amount to £SOO, whilst a continuance of an offence is puriishable hy the infliction of a further £SOO for each day’s continuance. The Daily Telegraph’s agricultural editor sounds a note of alarm regarding the New South Wales wheat harvest. He says the estimated 3,202,000 acres sown for grain in the Jfcence of spring rains over a great part of the wheat belt threatens to cut the possible harvest down by a thud or a halt. He adds that a break in the weather now, with sufficient rain, would make a 30,000,000 bushels harvest possible. With a continuance of the hot weather now prevailing 25,000,000 may not be realised. In some districts large areas are already beyond recovery and others are in a precarious condition. In the Riverina and South-West, which will account for rather more than half the total acreage, the outlook is for bumper yields to half crops. , MELBOURNE, This Day. In the. House of Representatives the Minister of Customs explained that the New Zealand reciprocity -negotiations could fee concluded immediately if Australia was prepared to make concessions, which he considered too great. He would probably ask Parliament to make some concessions and pass the necessary legislation.