COMMONWEALTH NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17662, 21 February 1916, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH NEWS

INCREASED PRICES. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, February 20. Received February 20, 5.3 p.m. The Commodities Commission has increased the price of jam and kerosene. A STRIKE’S RESULT. BARRIER MINERS STARVING. SYDNEY, February 19. The Broken Hill miners have reached the starvation limit, and have telegraphed to the Premier (Mr Holman) for financial assistance. GOVERNMENT GRANTS £250. SYDNEY, February 20. Received February 20, 5.5 p.m. The Government has granted £250 for the relief of distress at Broken Hill. EARLY HOTEL CLOSING. DECREASE OF DRUNKENNESS. SYDNEY, February 20. Received February 20, 5.5 p.m. Official figures disclose a big decline in the number of charges of drunkenness and indecent language since the six o’clock closing was introduced. MORE ADVANCED SCHEME PROBABLE. SYDNEY, February 20. Received February 20, 0.5 p.m. Cabinet to-morrow discusses State action in regard to liquor control. It is understood that a definite and more advanced scheme than Mr Holman was previously prepared to give will be forthcoming. MORE TROUBLE WITH LUMPERS. FREMANTLE, February 20. Received February 20, 5.5 p.m. The Mongolia was held up for several hours by the refusal of the lumpers to work a midnight shift for less than 3/6 an hour. The development is viewed seriously as affecting mail boats. COMMONWEALTH RECRUITING. SYDNEY, February 20. Received February 20, 5.5 p.m. Recruiting has lately declined considerably. This is attributed largely to the fact that those who answered "Yes” on the war cards are waiting to be called up. In order to check the tendency to enlist in special corps the authorities notify that men must enlist for general service, and if there is an opening in the chosen corps they will be allotted, accordingly. WHARF LABOURERS’ BLUNDER. ARBITRATION COURT’S THREAT. MELBOURNE, February 19. In the Arbitration Court Mr Justice Higgins severely castigated the wharf labourers for refusing to load flour, and said he would decline to continue the protection of the Court to their union, which was trying to make public law by breaking Its own contracts. ' LIQUOR REFORM. SYDNEY, February 19. The early closing proclamation has been served on all clubs. General satisfaction is expressed at Senator Pearce’s prompt and courageous action. Mr Holman advocates wet canteens in the military camps on English lines. PORT OF SYDNEY. SYDNEY, February 19. The Sydney Plarbour Trust annual report shows that 9446 vessels entered the port during 1915, their net tonnage being 8,164,133. This is a decrease of 676 vessels, and 1,272,977 tons compared with 1914. The imports were valued at £26,217,756 and exports at £26,631,096. THE COLEBROOK SMASH. TWO MORE DEATHS. HOBART, February 19. Two more deaths have occurred as a result of the railway disaster; those of John Castles, a labourer (fractured skull), and John Rough ton (internal injuries).