AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17497, 15 June 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SYDNEY MEAT FAMINE.

INQUIRY IN NEW ZEALAND.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. . (Reed. 1.30 a.m.) SYDNEY. Juno 14. Sydney is now faced with a meat famine. Inquiries have been made for supplies of mutton from New Zealand, but an obstacle in tho way is tho import duty of 3d per pound, which will put imported meat out of reach unless the Fedoral Government ran be persuaded to suspend the duty. No difficulty is anticipated in securing its suspension.

end' OF THE DROUGHT.

TORRENTIAL RAIN FALLINU. (Rccd. 1.30 a.m.) SYDNE7, Juno 14. Rain which is officially described as tile best that has fallen since tho commencement of the drought, has sftcpl the greater part of New South Wales, tho falls in many parts being described as torrential. It is now stated that the drought lias definitely broken. As a result of the rains the Railway Department is rushed with applications for the return of starving stock to the ordinary pastures. N.S.W. WHEAT SHORTAGE. VICTORIA ASKED TO HELP. SYDNEY, June 14. The position in regard to the wheat shortage is serious. Practically all thff mills have closed, and the Government is again seeking tho assistance of Victoria. QUEENSLAND POLITICS. SYDNEY, June 14. The Labour Conference pissed a resolution expressing hostility to tho Imperial Federation and objecting to Lord Milner receiving a Queensland deputation opposed to Queensland legislation, on the ground that such action challenges the underlying principle of Australia's selfgoverning powers. COMPULSORY VOTING URGED. SYDNEY, June 14. The labour Conference passed a resolution in favour of compukory voting at State and Federal elections. NO WORK ON SATURDAY. SYDNEY, June 14, Iron trades employees, by a 4 to 1 majority, decided in favour of no Saturday work. BARRY'S LAST RACE. , , SYDNEY, Juno 14. Ernest Barry, the English sculler and ex-world'« champion, states that he will retire after hia raco with FeJtoa,