THE COMMONWEALTH

Southland Times, Issue 17469, 25 March 1915, Page 2

THE COMMONWEALTH

JURAT FOR ENGLAND, (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY. March 23. The Hon. J. H, Cann states that the Government has not fixed the prices at which meat is to be sold to the Imperial authorities. The ruling prices have been submitted to the Imperial authorities, who have authorised the Board to secure supplies at Queensland rates. These prices will be fixed for n month, but probably will be altered at the end of that time. Subsequently Instructions will be given authorising the Board to fix prices. RECIPROCITY. MELBOURNE, March 21. A deputation representing the Associated Chambers of Commerce presented the Hon, F. Tudor (Federal Minister of Customs) with tlie resolutions adopted by tlie Hobart Conference in favour of renewing negotiations witli Canada and New Zealand, witli a view to reciprocal arrangements. Early Cabinet consideration of tlie matter was promised, RATING IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY. March 21, "I he City Council rejected a proposal to adopt the unimproved and capital value system of rating. SYDNEY STREET TRAFFIC. SYDNEY. March 2 1, Tlie new system of street traffic which was i event ly enforced is considerably relieving the vehicular congestion. Pedestrian traffic is also being regulated under threats of stiff penalties. MINISTERIAL SALARIES. PERTH, March 21. Ministers' salaries arc included in the civil service retrenchment proposals. STATE BAKERIES. SYDNEY, Marcli 21. The executive of (lie Employers' Federation. in a criticism of (lie Hon. D. R. Hall's Stale bread scheme, says that tlie experiment would ruin a large number of established businesses, accentuate tlie industrial evils which had already been created by tlie extensive Government employment of labour, anti tend to check the investment of money in private industrial concerns. It adds: Government monopolies are successfully workable, only where Labour is under the control of tlie Government, They arc foredoomed to failure —failure in Australia, where organised labour controls tlie Government. NEW SOETH WALES WHEAT CASE. SYDNEY. March 21. In the wheal case the Federal High Court also found that the Constitution gave tlie Commonwealth Parliament no power to create an Inter-State Commission at all. Costs were allowed New Sou Hi Wales. The Don. D. I!. Hail is gratified at tlie result, lie says that tlie real issue at stake was whether the people thought that Parliament still retained its full powers of self-government or whether tlie dead hand of tin- constitution had been la id upon the Stales and the Commonwealth. Tlie Hon. W. M. Hughes (Federal At-torney-General I views tlio position seriously, and considers it possible that there will he further developments. Tlie wheat trade generally is relieved, because if the Court's derision had been in the nature of an opposite finding there would have been raised all sorts of complications with regard to Commonwealth wheal.