AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2779, 25 May 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE STRIKE EPIDEMIC IN AUSTRALIA i * GERMAN AT THE BACK OF. 1T... By Telegraph—Pices Association—Copyright Sydney, May 24. Referring to the prevalence of strikes,Mr. Black (Chief. Secretary), said it had been found jthat they were engineered by the secretary of ono union, who was a German. He had\ advised tha Federal authorities,'and certain action taken resultad in the end of the disputes. The strike of iron workers at Walsl Island has been settled. MENINGITIS OUTBREAK. , : . DRASTIC STEPS. MAT BE TAKEN. > Melbourne,. May; 24.:" The Chief Health Officer has announced that if the meningitis outbreak does not abate it will be necessary to consider the question 'of limiting audiences ol closing all places of amusement. CARGO PILFERING. WHARF THEFTS A PUBLIC SCANDAL.. ■ - , Sydney, May 24. In sentencing a prisoner to seven years* imprisonment for cargo pilfering, Judge 'Murray said that the amount of thieving on the wharves was a.public scandal, aha caused the port to stink in the nostrilf' of every decent citizen. • . , . \ .'•> FEDERAL LOANS TO THE STATES, EXTENSION OF TIME FOE REPAYMENT. (Eec. May 24, 11.10 p.m.) Adelaide, May 24.: The State Premiers' Conference has de--cided to ask the Commonwealth Government to postpono' the date of the repay.' ment of the first instalment of the eighteen million loan obtained by the 6tates us an extended period of repayments must be made. BIG LIQUOR- FIGHT. Sydney, May 21. The liquor referendum campaign is ii full swing. Both sides are organising for a great fight. (Rec. May 21, 8.30 p.m.) Sydney, May' 24. The advocacy of moderation is.tho chief plank in the liquor interest's referendum platform. The Civic and Moral Advancement Council of the Protestant and Jewish Churches, in a "joint guidance manifesto," advises their adherents to vote for six o'clock closing. There is a widespread Press and public opinion that tha women's vote will bo the deciding factor. ITEMS IN BRIEF. DUO!' IN FOOD .PRICES. ' ! London, May 21. The official statistics giving the price of foodstuffs in the Commonwealth for April show that it decreased 3 per cent, as compared with March prices. — : —~ -. WAR LOANS, AND PENSIONS. (Ucc. May 24, 5.30 p.m.) Melbourne, May 24. Both Federal Houses have passed the War Loans and the War Pensions Bills, A number of other Bills have been ad jouined, ino dati being fixed. ZINC PRODUCERS' COMBINE. (Rec. May 24, 11.10 p.m.) Melbourne, May 24. - Tho Zinc Producers' Association h<i3 been registered, with a capital of ,£IOO,OOO, for the purpose of controlling . the wliolo output of zinc concentrates and the resultant spelter of the Commonwealth,