AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5883, 1 April 1915, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP.

MR. FISHER DENIES RUMOUR. By Telegraph-- Press Association —Copyright. (Received March 31. 10 p.m.) Syiin'kv. .March 31. At the Roval Show luncheon to-day Mr. Andrew Fisher, Federal Prime Minister, denied the London rumour that be whs accepting tho Australian High Controlseioncrship. TRAGEDY IN BUSH. SENTENCE OX SHAW. (Received March 31. 10 p.m.) Sydney, March 31. Albert Shaw, who was found guilty of manslaughter in connection with tho death of John Walsh in a rabbiters' camp, has been sentenced to live years' imprisonment. [Shaw, Walsh, and a third man named Hillman, comprised a party of rabbiters camped in the bush. Hillman went to a township and bought some whisky. The following day Hillman and Walsh were walking towards their tent when Shaw appeared with a gun, which, it is alleged, |he tired, wounding both. Walsh died of | his injuries, but Hillman's life was saved, j though he has since become insane.] SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS. GOVERNMENT DEFEAT. Adelaide, March 31. The Labour Party is assured of a majority of six as a result of the elections for the Assembly. FRUITGROWERS' LOSS. NO SHIPS FOR EXPORT. Hobart, March 31. Owing to the fact that the Imperial authorities have requisitioned the use of the steamers Clan Mac Arthur and Euripides for the carriage of meat, the fruitgrowers are unable to ship 110.000 cases of fruit. The Premier points out mat this represents a-quarter of the Tasmanian export, and the result is that thousands of cases have been dumped on the local market. VICTORIAN OAT CROP. SERIOUS DECREASE. MzLBorRNT, March 31. The Victorian oat harvest yielded 1,608,419 bushels, as compared with 8,890,321 bushels the previous season.

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER. TARIFF SUSPENSION PROPOSED. Sydney, March 31. Owing to the continued increase in the price of butter, it has been suggested that the Federal Government should suspend the import duty, so as to enable Aew Zealand butter to be placed on the Australian markets. TOTALISATOR BILL. GOVERNMENT TO FACILITATE. Melbourne, March 31. The Victorian Cabinet has dccded to facilitate the consideration of a Bill providing for the introduction of the totalizator. BENEFICIAL RAINS. IMPROVED OUTLOOK FOR WINTER. (Received March 31, 11 p.m.) Sydney, March 31. Pereistent heavy rain is militating agaipst large attendances at the Royal Show. The whole State, however, is benefiting. In some places 4in of rain has fallen. The outlook for a good crop and supply of fodder has greatly provedFIXED PRICE IGNORED. TWO DEALERS FINED. (Received March 31. 7.30 p.m.) Sydney, March 31. Tivo produce dealers have been fined for selling pollard above the price fixed iby the Commodities Commission. Theso wen the first convictions of the kind. •