AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10769, 18 May 1911, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association - .) ATTORNEY-GENERAL FINED. Received May 17, at 10.55 p.m. Newcastle. May 17. j Three more politicians were fined for street-speaking, including .Mr Hughes, j the Commonwealth Attorney-General, j PEACE OF THE WORLD. j Sydney. May 17. j The Presbyterian Assembly ha.s for- j warded a message to the Imperial Go- \ eminent rejoining at the suggested : Anglo-American arbitration treaty. TELEPHONE BETTERMENT. Sydney, May 17. j The Postmaster-General has decided | to conduct systematic tests in the tele- j phone., service. An officer will devote i his time to going round and ringing numbers on different telephones and report the results. A FRUIT RING. Received May 18, at 1 a.m. Sydney, May 17. The fruit merchants emphatically deny the existence of a ring. They state that Mr Griffiths is not in a position to know. PRICES GO UP-. Melbourne,' May 17. Tenders have been received by the Defence Department for 1800, sets of military harness, ; at an'average of £2 a set'over last year's and £5 over the English'tenders. ..The Acting Minister of Defence says he desires to.assist local industries, but he would not be doing his fluty If he allowed manufacturers to insist on such an advance. POPULATION QF PAPUA. • . » ; Sydney, May 17. The native population of Papua is 270,745. The whites are just under 1000/ WORK AND WAGES. Received May 18, at 5.55 'a.m. London, May 17. The result of the ballot of the Hnddersfield operatives whether to strikeor not- will be.known; on-the 28th. The "Manufacturers' Association denies that it c,an affprd a 15. per cent, advance,' and declares, that wages are higher than ili any other district.

THE SHEARING DISPUTE. ' Sydney, May 18. The conference between the pastoralists and. the shearers failed to bring about an agreement, and Court proceedings will be resumed.'

UNRULY'STUDENTS. •;• Sydney, May 18. The students at the University threaten to absent themselves if the Undergraduates' Committee .is rusticated sis the result of Saturday's, demonstration. . '

LEASEHOLD OR FREEHOLD. ■ :. ■ ■ Sydney, May 18. In the Assembly Mr Wade tabled a censure motion on the Government s proposal to repeal the Conversion Act. He said he condemned the. proposal in the interests of those who had been led to expect they would be able to convert their holdings into the freehold.

SHORTAGE OF LABOR. Sydney, May 18. At the Master Builders' Association dinner the speakers deplored the shortage of labor, and stated that architects were unable to get tenders for many works because contractors were unable to get men. A vigorous immigration policy was asked for. MAN AND MONEY MISSING. Received May 18, at 10.50 a.m. Sydney, May 18. The Seamen's Union secretary is still missing. A large deficiency in the Union funds is reported. RICHMOND DISASTER. , .. Melbourne, May 18. Medical attention in connection with the Richmond disaster cost the Department £16,699. FRUIT STRIKE. Adelaide, May 18. The Renmark fruit strike still continues. The growers did their own harvesting and sustained a loss of only two half per centum. . , THE BITTER PIT. Adelaide; May 18. The Government Entomologist has discovered bitter pit in unsprayed apples.