AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 36

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

It is unofficially stated that the Victorian Government lias decided to discontinue the whea't pool. ~.M r Livingston, Victorian Assistant Minister of Agriculture, lias resigned from the Cabinet owing to ill health. It is stated that the year’s railway revenue in Victoria will amount to £9,500,001 to £10,000,000. It is anticipated that there will be a deficit of £400.000. , Sydney Profiteering Court has reduced the wholesale prices of kerosene and benzine by Is p< r case—to 19s and 29s respectively. It is now definitely established that tho recent earth tremors in Sydney wore caused by too destruction of guncotton, which had become obsolete, at Liverpool camp. As the result of complaint regarding tho damage to buildings the explosions hate boon suspended. Mr M'Uirr, Xew South Vales Minister of Health, informed a deputation which asked assistance for a hospital that the v*o\eminent proposed to legislate to coinpel employers and employees to subscribe tor the upkeep of hospitals. A proclamation has been issued in Australia prohibiting the importation of literature advocating the overthrow by force of the established governments of the Commonwealth or of any other civilised country. 1 lie prohibition also applies to any literature wherein seditious intention is. expressed. Rev. Mr Thompson, of the Fiji Methodist Mission, lias returned to Svdnev from India He states that many Indians who, aiter living in Fiji, have returned 1o India, are dissatisfied with conditions there, and desire to come back to Fiji. Arrangements have been made to enable them to do so. S r Joseph Cook (Acting Prime Minister) announced that tile Government was appointing Mr Justice Powers in place of Mr .jti.'.tiee Higgins as president cf the Federal Arbitration Court. ANOTHER SMALLPOX CASE. A further ease of smallpox lias been reported among the Niagara passengers at the quarantine station, Sydney Harbour. It. is the mother of the first patient. The contacts at present m quarantine number five. All are relatives of the first patient. ANTHRAX POISONING. V man lias died in the Brisbane General Hospital front anthrax poisoning. He had purchased a shaving brush at a JapatOs© second-nand ebon. 1 lie brush has since been boiled for nine hours, but the microbes were still active at tlie end of that lime. MEAT FREIGHTS. A conference of New South Wales meat exporters, in urging a reduction of freights, passed a resolution—“ That, in consequence of the existing rates and the state of the London market, only an infinitesimal quantity. of meat will lie available for export curing the next half-year. Further, if the freight is reduced by gd per lb this conference is of opinion that 30.CC0 ton.- of additional meat will be exported.” QUESTION OF FREIGHTS. The manager of the Commonwealth steamers, questioned respecting the New Zealand proposal for amalgamation to reduce freights, stated that Jje was aware that a suggestion had been made that the New Zealand Government should contribute lo die enlargement of the Commonwealth Line, hut so far negotiations lud not commenced. WHEAT POOL. The South Australian Government lias definitely decided that there shall be no compulsory wheat pool for the next crons. Si r Joseph Cook announced that file Federal Ministry was opposed to another wheat pool. lie raid that he fully approved of the South Australian decision against a compulsory pool. A conference of the Ministers of Agriculture of all the States except Victoria and Somli Australia passed a resolution asking Victoria and South Australia 10 agree to die maintenance of the All-Aus-tralian wheat pool for another season. It was staled that during the six seasons covered by the operations of the scheme the \\ heat Board had handled 626,932.000 bushels. THE LIQUOR TRADE. An interesting legal position has arisen in Sydney in connection with die liquor question. "The Liquor Act, 1919.” provided for a referendum before June 30, 1920. on the question of prohibition in hotels. meanwhile observing 6 o’clock closing. The liquor interests contend that the la.v expires on June 30. thus enabling rlie hotels to revert io late hours in die absence of other legislation. The referendum wa~ postponed in consequence of the cost, involved. The Minisetr of Justice officially announces that tho 6 oYloi k dosing of hotels will continue until another referendum is taken.