AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18990, 11 October 1923, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE PRICE OF SUGAR. DATE OF REDUCTION NOT FIXED. Preoa Association —By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, October 10. Dr Earle Page has announced that the date for the reduction of the price of sugar has not yet been fixed, as it is dependent on the time when the carryover stocks are sold. VICTORIAN POLITICS. MELBOURNE, October 10. A meeting of the Country Party carried a resolution of confidence in its leader, who recently accepted a portfolio in the Lawson Ministry. Mr Allen informed ms colleagues in the Government that he would not be prepared to carry on unless some assurance of confidence was forthcoming. The situation now appears brighter, but it is believed that the Ministry is not out of the wood. ORGANISING WOOL INDUSTRY. SYDNEY, October 10. The General Council of the Graziers’ Association has decided to ask Sir John Higgins to formulate a scheme in the interests of the woolgrowers for the more complete organisation of the wool industry. A RECORD SALE. SYDNEY, October 10. A city auctioneer claims a record sale for value represented in a given time, tie gold 2500 lots of the Gas Company’s shares in 80 minutes, for a total of £266,000, or at the rate of £3525 per minute. INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION. PERTH, October 10. The Manufacturers’ Congress passed several motions urging the Federal and State authorities to endeavour to dovetail the industrial and arbitration powers to prevent constant overlapping in industrial disputes. CLAIM AGAINST UNION COMPANY. SYDNEY, October 10. (Received Oct. 10, at 10.5 p;m.) Judgment was reserved in Captain Spain’s action against the Union Steam Ship Company. SUGAR COMMISSION’S REPORT. SYDNEY, October 10. (Received Oct. 10, at 10.5 p.m.) The report of the Royal Commission which inquired into the Government sugar purchases states that no gift or consideration was received by any person employed by the commonwealth in respect of sugar sold through W. E. Davies. The report thus completely exonerates Mr Deane. TASMANIAN BUDGET DEFICIT. HOBART, October 10. (Received Oct. 10, at 10.5 p.m.) In the Assembly the Treasurer (Sir W. H. Leo) delivered his Budget. He stated that even after effecting drastic retrenchments there was estimated to be a deficit of £253,950 at the end of June next; The public debt now totals over £12,000,000, which is equal to £IOO per head of the population.