GENERAL CABLEGRAMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2378, 6 February 1915, Page 8

GENERAL CABLEGRAMS

By Tolesr<n>li—Press ABSociation-Oonyright

RECIPROCITY AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND Melbourne, February 5. . Mr. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister, iu an interview, said he saw no necessity why Australia and New Zealand reciprocity should-stand over till arrangements aro cnt&red into with the other scl .'-governing Dominions. lie h(.pcd ari.ingements with Now Zealand would bo reached in the near future, but a. necessary preliminary would be a visit of a member of tho New Zealand Ministry to Australia to discuss details. However, nothing could be done immediately. It might take a year to arrive at finality.

GRANT HERVEY SENTENCED

TWO YEARS FOR FORGERY. (Roc. February 5, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, February 5. Grant Hervey, tho author, who was found guilty of forging a telegram to a newspaper with tho object of creating a basis for a libel action, has beeu sentenced to two years' imprisonment. In an impassioned specch ho protested his innoccnco, stating that he was oonvicted becausc of the ovidcnce of tho rottcnost gan& of perjurers who were ever in Court. Tho Judge refused to suspend the sentcnco until the Norton case was decided. [Grant Hervey has to answer another charge of falsely pretending to John Norton, that be (Horvey) had misconducted himself on two . occasions with Mrs. Norton, and then made a wilful false promise that he would supply information which would enable Norton to discover Mrs. Norton misconducting herself with Hervey, by means of which false promise Hervey attempted to obtain from Norton £200, with intent to defraud.]-

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE NOT. TO BE HELD THIS YEAR. London, February 4. Mr. Lowis Harcourt (Secretary of Stato for the Colonies), speaking in the House of Commons, said that there would bo no Imperial Conference in 1915. PENSION SUSPENDED " SIR ROGER CASEMENT. Sir Edward Grey, in the Honso of Commons, said that Sir Roger Casement's pension would be suspended pending an investigation. [Sir i Roger Casement wa6 formerly in thel Diplomatic Service, and recently visited Berlin, where he made some wild statements regarding Ireland's loyalty to the Empire.] EMINENT GEOLOGIST • TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. Sydney, February 5. Mr. E. Ferrer, geologist to the first of Captain Scott's Antarctic expeditions, has arrived, en route to New Zealand. BRIBERY RUMOURS ■WHEAT ACQUISITION ACT. _ Sydney, February 5. The Premier (Mr. Holman) has announced that it is proposed to take further action, ill connection with the Wheat Acquisition Act. bribery rumours. He declared tha if any person had been ■ongaged creating tho impression that the money obtained over the business was to be distributed for bribery he ought -to be prosecuted. The Premier, also announced that the scheme of borrowing from the firm of Norton and Griffiths for public works purposes was practically complete. DEFENCE CONTRACTS PROTEST BY EMPLOYERS. _ . Sydney, February 5. The Employers' Federation has passed a resolution protesting against the clause iu the Defence Department contracts, empowering a trades union walking delegate to inspect the work, and also against the Government industrial competition with private enterprise. In order, to encourage enlistment, the federation ia urging employers to assure preference, of employment after the war to all employees who have joined the colours.

OBITUARY MISS M. E. BRADDON. MiGa Braddon, the novelist, is dead [Miss Mary Elizabeth Braddon wa» born in 1837, and wrote her firct novel "The Trail of the Serpent, - '' in ]£60'. She wrote steadily at least one iwel a year up till 19'il, and had a very wide popularity. She was carried 10 Mr. John Maxwell, nho left her awidcw.j JAPANESE BUSINESS MEN EXPLOITING AUSTRALASIA. - Sydney, February 5. Several more Japanese business .'yen have arrived, with the object of pi«Bct« ing trade between Japan and Au-;t:alia. VICTORIA LIQUOR TRADE BIGHT HUNDRED HOTELS CLOSED (Rec. February 5, 7.35 p.m.) Melbourne, February 5. 'As a result of eight years of work in licensing reduction, the board has closed over eight hundred-hotels, at a cost of £-100,000 provided by tho liquor trade iteelr.