"DRAGGING ALONG."

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17471, 3 June 1922, Page 6

"DRAGGING ALONG."

WOOL TOPS CASE. (By Cabla—Preas Association— CoDrtigiAA (Australian ».ad N.Z. Cable A«soci»tioa-) (Received June 2nd. 7.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 2. The wool tops case is dragging alongMuch technical evidence is being sifted by tho great array of legal talent on each side, and will provide a lengthy and expensive forensic battle. [A previous message said:—The hearing has commenced of what is known as the ''wool tope case,'' in which the Commonwealth Government and the Central Wool Committee are proceeding against the Coloniai Spinning and Weaving Company, Limited. The plaintiff's claim is for moneys allegedly due by the defendant company as license fees for allowing the company to sell wool tops to foreign countries. The sum of £200,C00 is claimed as damages for breach of agreement, and £282,000 paid by the plaintiffs conditional upon such release. A cross action is indicated, involving about £.1,000,003, in which the defendant company alleges that the Commonwealth Government was guilty of breaches of agreement in refusing to consent to further sales of wool tops except on conditions which gave the Government a greater share of profitu from the company's operations than they were entitled to.]

LOADING GREASY WOOL. TASMANIA HELD UP. (rBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) GISBORNE, June 2. The loading of the liner Tasmania with 030 bales of Government greasy and slipe wool has been held up by the men refusing to proceed until an assurance is forthcoming that any man incapacitated as tho result of handling the wool will receive compensation. Medical men examined the wool, and a further sample will bo examined by a bacteriologist. CUSTOMS TARIFF REDUCED. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 2. Tho Customs tariff on several lines of goods was reduced as from yesterday, in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Duties Amendment Act passed last session. It is stated, as a result, pending a reduction, a large quantity of goods that in tho usual way would have been cleared during May have been allowed to remain in bond. TRADE WITH RUSSIA. (Received June 2nd, 5.5 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, June 1. Both Hpuses rejected the Government's proposal to conclude a commercial treaty with Russia. GERMAN GOODS IN AUSTRALIA. (Received June 2nd, 11.45 p.m.) - ,- SYDNEY June 2. , The president of the Chamber _of Commerce brought under the notice of. the Tariff Board the fact that German goods had already reached Sydney, a consignment being landed in Melbourne some timo ago, evading the Customs officers, and some part of it was purchased by a Sydney firm. Tho Customs Department at Sydney heard of the transaction and the goods were held for a month before the. firm*was allowed to dispose of them.

PURE SEED LEGISLATION. "UNIFORMITY DESIRED. (By Cable—Press Association*—Copyrigiht.) (Australian and N.Z. • Cable Association.) PERTH, Juno 2A conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the various States carried a resolution favouring uniform pure seed legislation, providing for uniform standards of "germination, better examination of seeds at ports of and uniform labelling of seeds, whether locally grown or imported. Other resolutions favoured the eytension of the cotton-growing guarantee for five years to assist the development of the industry, and emphatically protested against the intervention of the Federal Government in the dairying industry as necessitating useless expense

PRICE OP HIDES. (special to "the TRESS.") DUNEDIN June 2. The price being paid in New Zealand to-day . for local 'hides is considerably higher than what they could bo imported at, being Is l 2d to Is 8d per lb, as against Hid- It would not be surprising if tanners were to import South American hides to bring the local market down. Formerly iirst-elaus South American hides were imported into New Zealand via London or New York, but that has died down. So also has the export. of Now Zealand . hides to the United States and Canada. At present Australia appears to be the only outlet for, export from New Zealand. The New Zealand hide is a splendid article, and is worth good money. FREIGHT RATES REDUCED. MELBOURNE, June 2. A further reduction in wheat and flour freights is announced. June shipments will be accepted at 37s 6d, which is only 2s 6d above the pre-war rates. RUSSIA'S CROP THREATENED. RIGA, June 2. Russia's corn supply is jeopardised by the destruction of the winter crop in many districts, notably in the Governments of Petrograd and Novgorod. SYDENHAM PICTURES, LTD.

The tenth annual report and balance-sheet of Sydenham Co-operative Pictures, Ltd., show that the net profit for the year amounts to £629 13s 6d. 0! this sum depreciation his been written off amounting to £lll 9s, and there has been reserved for income-tax £24 3s Bd. There is left available £461 Os lCd. The directors recommend that this be dealt with as follows: —Payment of dividend at the rate of 7J per cent, per annum £2BO 7sf carry forward £IBO 13s lOd. Total, £l6l Cs lOd. During the year the sum of £250 has been paid off the amount due to vendors, reducing this amount to £I3OO, and it is intended to reduce this amount by a further payment of £250 during tho present financial year. The directors who retire by rotation are: —Messrs H. Holland and C. w. Hervey, who are eligible, and offer themselves for jo-election. BANGIOBA HOBSE SALE. Ther* was an entry of 116 horses at the monthly ' sale yesterday. The sale Was a dragging one, and prices were slightly lower than those of • recent sales, although the class of horse offered was much better than usual. Best heavy draughts made from £32 10a to £3B, medium draughts £25 to £3O, lighter sorts £l4 to £2O, aged draughts £7 10s to £l2, hacks and harness horses £3 10s to £9,' unbroken hacks £3 to £7 10a.