AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2730, 27 March 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

. INVESTMENT OF CAPITAL Jty Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, March 25. .Replying to a deputation from the Trades Hall, pointing out the necessity for, the establishment of new industries after the war, Senator Pearco (ActingFederal Prime Minister) said the Government" must have a voice-in saying how .capital should be applied. Capitalists should .not invest in picture shows while industries were languishing for want of capital. Capital belonged to the country, and the Government should have thd right to see it invested for the benefit of the country. FAIR RENTS COURT. v ' PROTEST FROM BUILDERS. Sydney, March 25. _ Now that the Fair Rents Court is in operation, the builders and estate agents are proclaiming that the Act seriously aifeots the building, trade, and that already considc«railo money intended for investment -in the construction of dwellings has been withdrawn, They object Jo the Act fixing a net return of 6 per cent., and point out that the money for a largo class of speculative building cannot bo obtained below this figure. Such a limit, they say, will kill that class of builder. They urge that rents must advance in proportion to the ratio of the increase in the cost of building. • HIGH PRICE OF MEAT. INQUIRY TO BE MADE. Sydney, March 25. : As an outcome of the .cbntinued pro- . testations the high' price of meat, the Government has directed the Necessary Commodities Commission to inquire into the whole question. BREAD AND FLOUR. FEDERAL REGULATIONS. (llec. March 26, 5.5 p.m.) ■ Melbourne, March 26. A Federal Government proclamation has been issued fixing the price of flour delivered at £11 6s. per ton, and bread at 6Jd. the 41b. loaf, sold over the counter at all State .'capitals excepting Perth, where flour is to be sold at £11 Bs. and bread at 7d. Senator Russell, who administers the regulations, states that the Federal rei \ gulations prevail over the prices recently fixed by the State Governments. ENEMY SHAREHOLDERS. A FURTHER -PROCLAMATION. (Rec. March 26, 5.5 p.m.) , Melbourne, March 26. The Federal Executive has supersedad the. regulations in regard to enemy .shareholders, ;making them apply to. the London register of Australian com- 1 panies. . Other proclamations make more stringent the regulations _ against any-. one assisting interned prisoners to escape, and selling land to enemy subjects,' including those naturalised. COMMONWEALTH BANK. THREE BRANCHES IN NEW ZEALAND. . (Hoc. March ?6, 5.5 p.m.) Melbourne, March 26. In reference to the opening of branches by the Commonwealth Bank, in New Zealand, it is stated-that during his visit to the Dominion, Mr. Denison Miller arranged for the establishment of three branches. ...NEW SOUTH WALES RECRUITS. AN EXCELLENT RECORD. (Rec. March 26, 5.5 p.m.) ; * Sydney, March 26. - It is officially'stated that New South Wales has supplied 106,854 men since , the beginning of the war. ELECTION IN TASMANIA. THE LIQUOR REFERENDUM. (Rec. March 26, 11.40 p.m.) Hobart, March 26. The General Election was held yesterday, but the issue - was complicated by the liquor referendum, which completely overshadowed the other questions. . The voting was heavy, particularly of women electors, who have the choice of any closing hours \ from six to eleven inclusive. The liquor interest has selected 10 o'clock as the present limit, while temperance . supporters are solid for. 6 o'clock. Both worked tremendously hard, votes being cast irrespective of political colour, according to the candidate's leaning towards 6 o'clock or 10 o'clock - closing. As both absent and postal votes are operative the figures so far are inconclusive, either for the liquor or political issues.