AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17459, 1 May 1920, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE COST OF LIVING. | ADVANCE IN MARCH QUARTER. | Australian and N. 7. Cable Association(R*cd. 12.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April 80. The Common li Statistician's report states that, the cost of living for the March | ciuarter, compared with the corresponding i quarter last year, increased from 9.3 per cent, in Melbourne to 18.3 per cent. I DEARER MOTOR SPIRIT. (Heed. 12.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 30. The Commodities Commission has: granted the Vaccum Oil Company permis- I sion to increase the prices of kerosene to ' 18s 6d a case, beiusoline to 30s 6d a case, benzine to 27b 6d a case, and motor spirit to 28s a case. RAILWAY RATES ADVANCED. MELBOURNE, April 30. The State Government ha* increased railway fares and freights by 12J per lent. This, it is estimated, will produce an additional revenue of £1,000,000 a year. riVE-DAY WEEK AGITATION. MELBOURNE, April 30. Referring to the agitation for shorter working hours, Mr. W. M. Hughes stated that the Government had decided that, with a view to the necessity for increased production, it mutt be resisted at all costs. GIFT DESTROYERS ARRIVE. SYDNEY. April 30. The six destroyers presented by the British Admiralty" to the Commonwealth | Navy have arrived here from Portsmouth. GRANT FOR OLYMPIC TEAM. MELBOURNE, April 30. Mr. W. M. Hughes has promised a deputation of the Olympic Games Council that the Government will grant £1000 to--1 wards, the expenses of a team to the 1 Olympic Games.