INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 51

INTERCOLONIAL.

MELBOURNE, June 20. The campaign in favour of 6 o'clock hotel closing (instead of 9.30 p.m.) is actively progressing. June 21. The remains of the late Mr Goodwin are being embalmed, and will be sent to New Zealand for burial. June 22. The Federal Cabinet 'has considered the matter of putting into operation the Defence Act calling out the various classes of citizen forces for training. It was decided that Senator Pearce should arrange the necessary date when the Cabinet should determine the question of putting it into force. Senator Pearce has announced that the Wheat Board, through Mr W. M. Hughes, has arranged to sell to the French Government 200,000 tons of wheat at current rates, to be delivered in equal parcels over a period of 12 months. The Federal Government has assumed complete control of all Australian pingJune 23. Senator Pearce has announced that it has been arranged with the Imperial Government to advance sufficient money against unsold wheat to wipe out the wheat pool's overdraft. June 26. The day baking dispute has resulted in two flour mills closing down, owing to the withdrawal of their labour. No signs of a settlement can be discerned. SYDNEY, June 20. When the war .started the annual increments of civil servants in New South Wales receiving £2OO per annum and over, as well as their annual leave, were stopped. The State Government has now decided not only to reinstate the increments, but to pay arrears. The embargo on leave will also probably be removed. The preliminary annual report of the Government Statistician shows that, despite the departure of soldiers, the population of New South Wales has increased by .30 per cent., while the marriage rateis the highest for 50 years.

The Government Statisticians estimate the population of Kew South Wales on December 31 last as 1,868,2C0—an increase for the year of 6616. The excess of births over deaths was 37),275. The birth rate was 2.5 per cent, below the average for the previous five years. Illegitimate births averaged El per thousand, and the death rate was 10 per cent., or 50 per thousand —slightly above the decennial average.

June 21. Advices have been received that si?: now 1000-ton steamers are being built in Eng-

land for the Commonwealth and Dominion Line for the Australian and New Zealand trade. The weather is bitterly cold and wet.

The Commodities Commission has authorised increases of l/\ per lb for choicest and Id for first and second grade butters.

Juno 22. The Government Statistician reports that since the war commenced the price of food and groceries has increased by 30.5 per cent.

It is expected that the counting ot the hotel hours referendum votes will be completed by Friday, and that six o'clock

closing will come into operation on Monday next. June 23. A meeting of members of the Chamber of Commerce protested against the unfairness of the Federal income tax on foreign principals having agents in Australia. June 24. The New South Wales Commodities Commission has authorised an increase of Id per lb in cheese. SYDNEY, June 26.

The newspaper Sun prominently notifies that from Monday next it will start the publication of a new and enlarged cable service, including Reuter's Imperial JS r ews Service. It says that the Sun service previously fell a little short of perfection. This is now to be remedied, as from Monday it will also embody everything that Reuter obtains from its world-wide service of representatives.

The Chief Secretary of New South Wales has announced that 10 members of the Cabinet have decided to issue writs, each claiming £IOOO against the Mirror newspaper for alleged libel contained in the published statement that a certain bookmaker was heard to declare that money had been subscribed to persuade the Government not to legalise the totalizator.

Many shearing sheds are to commence work next month. It is expected that all will be affected by the shearers' recent claims (to 30s per 100, with no crutching, and £3 per week for shed hands), which, however, are not supported by the Australian AVorkers' Association.

The -weather generally is dull for the holidays. Rain caused the postponement of the Adelaide races. ADELAIDE, June 20.

A deputation of women asked the Government to take action to provide for training girls and women in agricultural occupations. An announcement of the Government's policy in this matter was promised when Parliament reassembles. June 22. Wheat has been reduced to 5s OJ,d for export to New Zealand.