AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22258, 10 May 1934, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

TORRENTIAL RAIN. DANGER OF SERIOUS FLOODS. SYDNEY, May 9. Torrential rain has fallen on the far north coast and there is danger of serious floods on the Richmond and Bcllingen Rivers. In Richmond, between the heads of Goff’s Harbour and the Bellingen districts, large areas are under water. FLOODS AT LISMORE. SYDNEY, May 9. (Received May 9, at II p.m.) Three feet of water is swirling through, many homes in the low-lying parts of Lismore and about 50 families have left. At Richmond the river is 24 feet above its normal level. The entire coast of New South Wales has been thoroughly drenched and there has scarcely been a day without rain in the past fortnight. FEDERAL FLOUR TAX. ABOLITION AFTER MAY. ADELAIDE, May 9. Mr Lyons ' announced that the flour tax imposed by the Federal Government would be abolished as from May 31. The Sydney Morning Herald, of December 30, said: “It is learned that the sales tax of £4 5s per ton on flour will be lifted early in the new year. In ministerial circles it is admitted that the tax is distasteful to many members of the Federal Government, and unwelcome to the whole of the Government forces. For that reason the period of the tax was definitely limited to seven months, with a provision that it should be lifted immediately the revenues warranted it.” PLIGHT OF THE NAMBUCCA. MAY BECOME TOTAL WRECK. SYDNEY, May 9. Continually lashed by heavy seas and with her holds half full of water, the plight of the Nambucca is serious. It is feared that the constant pounding will result in the vessel becoming a total loss. VESSEL BREAKS HER BACK. SYDNEY, May 9. (Received May 9, at 11 p.m.) The crew of the Nambucca' reached Sydney to-day. They report that the vessel had broken her back and become a total loss. The stranding occurred while the Nambdteca was being towed by a tug across the bar on Nambucca River. A huge wave lifted her and dumped her on a sandbank, where she remained helpless at the mercy of big overnight seas, the crew spending a miserable night on board. MARKETS IN EAST INDIES. OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, May .9. (Received May 9, at 11 p.m.) Mr J. Tonkin, officer in charge of the Eastern trade section of the Federal Department of Commerce, has issued a report in which he makes a plea for the development of a better understanding between the Australian people and the Netherlands, and the East Indies. He adds: “There exists throughout the East Indies an insistent demand for manufactured and semi-manufactured foodstuffs from countries of temperate climes.” He points out that the natives are unable to produce many of their own requirements and he suggests that Australian exporters could participate to a greater extent in dried fish, fresh and canned vegetables, - dried and canned fruits, cereal foods, sauces, pickles, cheese, tobacco, honey, condensed milk and cream. Australia however, already had a monopoly of butter and flour.