AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1920, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN.

l AUHXUALUN 05 N.Z JAUCC ASSOCIATION]

HOSPITAL COLLECTIONS.

SIDNEY, May io. Street collections lor the hospitals on Friday realised .045713. The fund now totals £830(3 and- is expected to reach £12,000.

STRIKE EAILS. SYDNEY, May 10.

A largo number of building employees have declared a strike against Saturday work. The strike was a failure and it was decided to resume on tho old terms.

METHODIST CENTENARY. SYDNEY, May 10. Tho Methodist Conference decided to be represented at the celebration in 1022 of the centenary of the Methodist Church in New Zealand. CARGO PILFERING. SYDNEY, May 10. In connection with the cabled advice of the prevalence of cargo thieving in New Zealand as a result of the world wide enterprise, it was stated the annual loss in Sydney through this cause' amounted to £IOO,OOO. One firm alone lost £15,000 during the past six months, v. hile in some instances wharf-labourers in Sydney provided pilferers in many others. Cases when opened were found to contain bricks, which on analysis proved to be of foreign origin. The American Consul is moving in the direction of remedying the evil before the cargo leaves America, but he favours the theory that pillaging is done at intermediate ports.

FATAL COLLISION. ( PERTH, May 10. A train collided with a cart at a level crossing at Madiugton, a woman and two girle being killed and a boy and girl injured. A BREAK AWAY. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May in. There are indications of a breakaway amongst the building employees ns connection with no 'Saturday work. On several jobs, men including unionists worked on Saturday. WARNING TO LABOUR, SYDNEY, May 10. Mr Storey addressing a meeting of workers and referring to the enormous debt the country had to face, gave a daring hint to the forty-hour week agitators. Tie said they must not he afraid of work, and where one man worked before, they must work now, rathe position was most difficult. If we are not careful during the next year or two, we would he glad to have work to do, which would occupy our nme thirty hours weekly. GENERAL BOOTH. ■(Received This Day at 8 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 10. General Booth asked about his attitude towards prohibition, said lie would like to see Australia dry, but he was not sure whether the will of the section should be forced on others.

MEAT GLUT AND HIGH PRICES, 'Received This Day at 8 a.m.)

SYDNEY, May 10

The press is echoing the outcry iigainst the high prices of meat. Cuttle are being rushed into the market owing to the drought over a large extent ofgrilling areas, causing a glut of beef. Wholesalers are paying threepence to bjfd, and killed meat is being retailed at 8d to 2s. At the present time the whole of the cold storage in New South Wales is crammed with beef, mutton and rabbits, estimated to the equivalent of half a million carcases waiting shipment, most of which has been frozen for over a year. All tile stock coming forward now must be consumed, lienee the outcry at the high prices. With the glutted market, graziers are fearful that besides the present losses, the drought endangers the lambing season. They declare unless soaking drought breaking rains, of which at present there are no indications, fall in the present month, there will be practically a total failure. The outlook at the best is serious as a large reduction of flocks is certain.