AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16876, 14 June 1918, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SUPPLY BILL STONEWALLED

QUESTION OF MEAT PRICES. Australian and N.*.. Cable Association. (Reed. 9.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE; June 13. Is the House -of Representatives the Opposition consistently stonewalled the Supply Bill in order to force the Minister to make a definite statement in reference to meat prices. A crisis hs ; s been reached.. IMPERIAL PURCHASE OF WOOL. £100.000.000 FOR TWO CLIPS. MELBOURNE. June 13. In the House of Representatives Mr. W. A. Watt. Acting-Federal Premier, announced that the Imperial Government had extended the purchase of the Australian wool clips for the period covering the currency of the war and one full year after its termination at a fiat rate of Is 3£d per lb for greasy, plus charges to cover expenses from warehouse to f.o.b. steamer. It was estimated that the returns from two clips onlv would exceed £100,000.000.

STATE UPPER HOUSE

SYDNEY, ,7,m e 13

Til the House of Assembly Mr. J. Estell gave notice, of motion that a refer, endum be taken at the next election on the abolition of the Upper House.

BUILDING WOODEN SHIPS.

MELBOURNE. June 13

Mr. A. PoyiiU.u, Act nig Naval Minister, stated in the House -J Representative!* yesterday that be had arranged for the building of six wooden ships, of 2300 tons, in West Australia. They would be completed in two years.

TOTAL OF ENLISTMENTS.

MELBOURNE, Juno 13.

Mr. F. G. Pearce, Federal Minister for Defence., announced to-day that the total enlistments were 396,487 "in the Commonwealth, and the total embarkation 316,531.