THE COMMONWEALTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12754, 25 September 1919, Page 7

THE COMMONWEALTH.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. By Telegraph—Pros* Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received September 25, 10.20 a.m.) CLOTHING A NECESSARY COMMODITY. r . SYDNEY. September 25. ■'the Commodities Commission is proclaiming clothing as a necessary com-, modify, TENTATIVE AGREEMENT. Tho conference of the coal miners and mme-owners of Now South Wales has reached a tentative agreement. THE PEACE LOAN. Tho Pence Loan subscriptions total 1120,000,000, which is £5,000,000 short of the amount required. Tho, time for receiving subscriptions has been extended to October 7, after which compulsion will be applied. NAURU ISLAND. MELBOURNE, September 20. Mr Hughes, in tho House- of Representatives, moving the second reading of the Nauru Bill, said that Australia’s phosphate requirements were 200,000 tons annually. The question of acquiring interests in the island had yet to be dealt with. He was not prepared to admit that the British Phosphates Company had a title to the deposits. It-had hoen suggested by the company that the Government should also acquire Ocean Island, a suggestion which he favoured. He concluded by saying that if New Zealand did nob accept tho agreement now the question of acquiring Ocean Island should bo dealt with by Australia and Britain.