AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE NATIONAL REGISTER LABOUR REVERSES DECISION MELBOURNE, Aug. 11. The Trades Hall Council decided by a large majority to reverse its previous decision imposing a boycott on the national register. THE CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN AN ENCOURAGING RESPONSE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Aug. 10. (Received Aug. 11, at 7 p.m.) Some 34,000 persons applied last week to be enrolled for national service, making a total of about 2,017,000 volunteers since the campaign began in January. THE WHEAT INDUSTRY ASSISTANCE FOR GROWERS MELBOURNE, Aug. 11. The Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, submitted to the Premiers’ Conference a proposal to ensure an average return to the wheat growers of 3s 4d a bushel on a marketable crop of 140,000,000 bushels. The conference adjourned late last night without having reached an agreement, mainly because of the opposition of the Premier of Victoria (Mr Dunstan) to the States sharing in the financing of the scheme. It is expected that his opposition will cause a breakdown of the conference to-day. HEAVY SNOWFALLS HIGHLANDS COVERED SYDNEY, Aug. 11. (Received Aug. 12. at 0.30 a.m.) The heaviest snowfalls for several years are covering the highlands adjacent to Sydney to the w_est and the south to-day. The blue mountains and Kosciusko are experiencing snow over a foot deep. SALE OF THOROUGHBREDS MELBOURNE, Aug. 11. (Received Aug. 12, at 0.15 a.m.) Seven horses in which the late Mr E. L. Baillieu was interested were sold by auction to-day. Bidding was remarkably keen. Top price was llSOgns paid for Atlas, by Heroic, the purchaser being Mrs C. Cook, of Victoria. Another named Force, now a two-year-old, fetched llOOgns, the buyer being Mr P. Osborne, of New South Wales. Force is a handsome colt by Manitoba. The English-bred mare, Fourgates, by Felstead, who was an English Derby winner, was bought for 1050gns by Mr H. Raymond, of St. Albans Stud. Prices for others ranged from 825gns to 450gns. LICENSED MOTOR DRIVERS ONE IN EVERY FIVE PERSONS SYDNEY, Aug. 11. (Received Aug. 12, at 0.5 a.m.) Statistics relating to motor traffic disclose that there are 1,340,000 licensed drivers in the Commonwealth or one in every five of the population, while one in every six persons holds a current driver's licence. The total registration of motor vehicles in New South Wales in the current year was 327,630. while throughout the Commonwealth there is approximately one motor vehicle to every eight of the population.