AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22294, 21 June 1934, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

.INTEREST ON OVERDRAFTS BANKS ANNOUNCE REDUCTION. SYDNEY, June 20. The Bank of New South Wales and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney announce that the maximum rate of interest on overdrafts will be 5 per cent, as from July 1 next. This represents a reduction in the maximum rate of one-half of 1 per cent, in the case of the Bank of New South Wales and one-quarter in the case of the Commercial Bank. The Associated Banks of Victoria, in making a somewhat similar announcement, limit the application of the reduced rate —namely, 5 per. cent.—to the overdrafts of primary producers, and make a reduction to 4J per cent, in the case of overdrafts granted to churches and public hospitals. WOOL MARKETING PROBLEM.

SYDNEY, June 20,

The necessity for the closest co-opera-tion among all interests concerned in marketing next season’s wool clip was emphasised by Sir Graham Waddell, who was re-elected chairman of the Australian Woolgrowcrs’ Council for the tenth year in succession. Sir Graham Waddell said that the statistical position throughout the world was wonderfully sound, and there was good reason to believe that the coming clip would be sold at prices satisfactory to growers. SUBSIDISING DOCTORS. NEW SOUTH WALES SCHEME. SYDNEY, Juno 20. (Received June 20, at 8.30 p.m.) The Minister of Health (Mr R. W. Weaver) announced in the Assembly to-day that the State Government, from July 1, will subsidise doctors who attend indigent persons who are too ill to leave their homes for hospital treatment. Mr Weaver pointed out that doctors in industrial districts were earning little more than the basic wage owing to the inability of patients in some instances to pay the medical fees due. Precautions will be taken to guard against fraud and imposition. REDUCED FREIGHT RATES. CHILLED BEEP AND SLIPE WOOL. SYDNEY, Juno 30. (Received June 20, at 11 p.m.) Following a conference between meat exporters and British shipping lines it was announced that a reduced freight rates for chilled beef had been agreed to and the new rate of Id per pound will apply from to-day, representing a reduction of slightly more than one farthing when the exchange is taken into consideration. A reduction of one eighth of a penny per lb of slipe wool was also announced.

VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT, OPENING OF SESSION. MELBOURNE, June 20. (Received June 20, at 11.15 p.m.) At the opening of the Victorian Parliament to-day the Governor, Lord Huntingfield, said every effort would be made to balance the Budget. The Government intended to re-enact the Financial Emergency Act, covering reductions in salaries, pensions and grants made by the State. THE WAGGA WAGGA TRIAL. JURY FAIL TO AGREE. SYDNEY, June 20. (Received June 20, at 11.30 p.m.) The jury in the Lillian Anderson trial failed to agree and were discharged. The accused was remanded for another trial. THE FRUIT EMBARGO. LIFTING RECOMMENDED. CANBERRA, June 20. (Received June 20, at 10.55 p.m.) Resumption of the trade in fresh fruit and vegetables between Australia and New Zealand was recommended by the conference of experts. The conference decided that imports of apples from New Zealand be subject to certification by Dominion authorities that the fruit was from uninfected orchards and without practical risk. The knowledge r now available of powdery scab is sufficient to justify the Commonwealth’s lifting of the prohibition on the importation of New Zealand potatoes. The conference accordingly recommends that course. It was also agreed that, subject to certification by the departments of Agriculture in the various States, importation of citrus fruits by New Zealand be resumed without risk of the introduction of fruit fly. These decisions, said the Federal Minister of Health (Mr C. W. Carr), which are based on scientific evidence, would be submitted to the Government’s of New Zealand and Australia for Approval before any action was' taken.

A FIENDISH CRIME.

MURDER AND SUICIDE,

SYDNEY. June 20. (Received June 21, 1.30 n.m.)

A fiendish crime has been reported from Lonely Hill country, 56 miles from Scone. Gordon Campbell, aged 16, was lured away and shot dead by Henry Wilder, aged 56, a station employee, who then attempted criminally to assault his employer’s wife, Mrs William Gunter, only escaped by pretending that her back was broken. Wilder afterwards committed suicide by shooting himself. He also shot his two dogs. Mrs Gunter had a terrifying experience. She walked two miles after the affray and fell unconscious. She was discovered later by her husband. Wilder had been befriended by the Gunter family for two years. Campbell •was Mrs Gunter’s nephew.