Commonwealth Cables.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1914, Page 5

Commonwealth Cables.

FROM N.S.W. AND VICTORIA A VERY DRY MONTH. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 8.45 a.m.) Sydney, February 3. January was an exceptionally dry month—only on two occasions during the past 56 years has the rainfall in January been less. MEAT AND BUTTER. Mr Harnaday, representative of a number of American papers, who is visiting Australia and New Zealand specially to inquire into the meat and butter trade, says' he is convinced that the prospects are favorable for a very large business in exporting these products to the United States. It is unlikely that the New Zealand meat export will be increased much, but a large expansion m the butter trade is promised. MEDICOS SAIL FOR N.Z. Eighty-eight doctors, a number accompanied by their wives, sail by the Maheno to-morrow to attend the Medical Congress at Auckland. THE BUILDING STRIKE.

A number of building jobs were thrown idle as a result of yesterday's stop-work meeting. Unless a settlement is reached at the meeting-to be held to-day, the trouble threatens to be serious.

LABOR CONFERENCE.

(Received 9.25 a.m.) Sydney, February 3

The Labor Conference, by 91 to 'l2 resolved that the penal clauses •)f the Industrial Arbitration Act be repealed, especially the clauses providing for the garnisheeing of men's wages.

A motion censuring the Minister for Works for failing to have the >tate and Federal Arbitration awards observed was postponed in order to live Mr Griffiths a chance of explain-

AUCKLAND BAND CONTEST.

Bandmaster Bentley sails by the Maheno to-morrow to judge the contests at the Auckland Exhibition. OLYMPIC SWIMMING. A meeting of the Amateur Swimming Union discussed the programme for the next Olympic Games. It was decided that the swimming programme be supported by Australia •is follows:—Free style: Hundred, four hundred, and fiftoou hundred ;ifetres; breast stroke, two hundred md four hundred metres; back stroke, hundred metres; ladies (free style), hundred, and three hundred metres; Times races for men, eight hundred ; ladies, four hundred metres j water polo, springboard, plain, and variety high diving. It v\as at.o agieed to support the restriction of heats to a minimum number. The proposal to allow swimmers to stand on the bottom and take one 'step at the turn was condemned. It was resolved to recommend the Olympic Federations for Australia and Xew Zealand that the 'teams travel together to the Games, to arrive early, and so acclimatise themselves and prepare themselves throughly. Particular care should be taken in securing quarters and arranging for proper English diet instead of Continental fare. BOWRON BROS. At a meeting of Bowron Bros, jllessrs Shaw and Hermann were reelected directors on the Australian Board. The chairman reported that although the balance-sheet was not as satisfactory as it should lie, he desired to state that reports since the date of the balance-sheet indicated that an improvement might be anticipated.

PROGRESSIVE NEW SOUTH WALES. (Received 9.55 a.m.) Mr Johnson, Chief Commissioner, speaking at a farewell gathering tendered by the technical staff, said he was blamed for not forseeing the great expansion of the past 7 years. If he had failed to forsoe it he was in good company and was not ashamed. The manager of the Bank of New South Wales confessed he and his directors similarly failed to forsee the marvellous expansion of the past few years and pointed out that fourteen million had been spent in loans during the past seven years.

WHARFIES HOLD MEETINCS.

Melbourne, February 3. Stop-work meetings of the stevedores and wharf workers' Union will be held to-morrow to receive the reports of the delegates at the late conference with the steamship owners. The latter refuse to accede to the position that employees must present claims for increases to the Arbitration Court. WOOL SALES. At the wool sales competition wan keen and prices equal to the host last week, vik., greasy te 16d, scoured 22Jd.