THE COMMONWEALTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16883, 2 August 1919, Page 7

THE COMMONWEALTH.

BAD SEASON IN AUSTRALIA. DROUGHT CAUSES GREAT LOSS. Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. SYDNEY, August 1. The "Sydney: Morning Herald" says that owing to the failure in a large measure of the usual winter rains, pastoralists and wheat growers regard the coming season's outlook as gloomy. In many places the pastures are bare. Heavy frosts and cold : are causing severe suffering and loss of half-starved stock. The possibility of a wheat crop depends on the rainfall of the next few weeks. In many districts they are browning off, due to drought, but spring rains may bring the crops forward. The only hopeful feature is the marked diminution of the rabbit pest as a result of the drought and the extensive operations of trappers, who are takingradvantage of the high prices obtainable for skins and the demand for- the carcases in view of the shortage of meat. WEST AUSTRALIA. PERTH, August 1. At the opening of Parliament, the crnoi (Sir "W. G Ellison-Macartney) m lus speech, emphasised the importance of lepaxriatiQn. He said that the State Government would legislate regarding prices with a. view of removing the cause of mdustual tuimoil. NAVAL DEFENCE AUSTRAILVS NECESSITY: -Received 8 15 p in., August Ist. BRISBANE, Ajgusf 1. Lord Jellicoe, lenlying to a welcome at Gladstone, said that Australia meant leal business m piepnung to defend her shoies In the est iblishment of naval bases The need foi teapower,'winch was .lb&olutely vital lor thq future of Australia, should be genelally lecogmsed Australia offered temptations to hci lieighbomi, and unless human natui e altei ed pe' pie would want to come over and take this glorious country.. It would b? necessaiy to have a stiong nav\ backed by the Biitish fleet to stop them. NO BRITISH MONEY, AVAILABLE MELBOURNE, August 1. The Auditoi-Geueial, who has returned from a vKit to London in-con-nection with loan matteis,-states-;that so far as the Empire money market-is concerned ho had formed" the opinion that during, the next decade at lhast Austialia would hive to looic to -her own maiket foi_ cheap mone\ Thn prevailing rate in London was o.V per cent., but owmg to the high income tax this leallj meant a letuin of 'only o\ pei cent