AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16233, 19 May 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

COMPULSION ISSUEDEBTS OF SOLDIERS. - Melbourne, May ' 18. , : A petition in favour of compul- J sory . service, containing,- ,70,000' names, .has been presented to the Senate. -•■• ..„"r:tVV.i ■'•■ The Acting-Prime Minister j Mr. ' G. F. Pearce, said the Government ~ : ?.-M had decided 'to take the -necessary steps to establish a moratorium to prevent foreclosures, in respect iof '''■[■% loans and -mortage debts, in order -.'- to assist soldiers to carry out finan- '% cial obligations contracted before their enlistment. ' Mr. Pearce refuses to abolish the practice of saluting officers outside military operations. FIXING OP PRICES. DIVIDED OPINIONS. Sydney, May 18. Mr. D. R. Hall, Minister for Justice in New South Wales, contends that the Government's scheme of fixing prices has saved the people ; over £2,000,000. The Chambers of ' Commerce Conference carried a motion, urging the abolition of price- % fixing boards, in order to prevent ;.| the possibility of exploitation. . ,i; WAR AND TARIFFS. |J , Sydney, May 18. The conference of the Chambers, of Commerce approved of preferential tariffs within the Empire, preferen- ; « ?|l| tial trade with the allied nations, ■'.'?% fair and reasonable* treatinent : of '■-'$$ neutrals, and surtaxed tariffs against -If the nations that forced Britain into ' ' war. The,, conference also urged the adoption of permanent measures to prevent the dumping of enemy goods within, the Empire after the war. • ', ' ' , . . ' .. ''^