AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1920, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

I AUSTIiAMAN IX, N.Z. C'AlUiii ASSOCIATION] BROUGHT BROKEN. SYDNEY, June 14. Heavy falls of rain are still recorded in the western districts. It is now stated the drought is definitely broken. WHEAT SHORTAGE. SYDNEY, June 14. The wheat position is serious. Practically all the mills are. closed. Govern, raent are again seeking the assistance of Victoria. LABOUR PROTEST. SYDNEY, June 14. Tile Labour Conference passed a resolution expressing hostility to the Imperial Federation and objected to Lord Milner receiving a Queensland deputation opposed to Queensland legislation, as it chalieng.es the uhderlying principle of Australia’s self-governing powers.

THE GAS STRIKE. MELBOURNE, June 14. » The Premier, in appealing to the public anticipated the strike would be fought to the end. No section would he permitted to dislocate industrial serFifteen hundred thousand sterling worth of cold storage meat « exposed to destruction, owing to the with dj a al of electricity for refrigerating Imposes.

GOOD RAINS. SYDNEY, June 14. The rain, which is officially describee ~ the best since the commencement o P— •» W* <uscribed as torrential. . As a result of the rains the Neu South Wales Railway Department >■ rushed with applications for the ie turn of stock to their ordinary pastuies.

SYDNEY MEAT SHORTAGE. SYDNEY, June 14

Sydney is now faced by a meat famine. Inquiries have been made for si 1 plies of mutton from New" Zealand, obstacle in the ~JJ » ■» ‘ duty of 3d per lb, which puts the ai S out of reach, unless the Federa, Government can he persuaded po - pencl the duty. No difficulty is anticipated in securing, a suspension.

LEGISLATORS’ SALARIES. (Received this day at 8.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Following the example of Federal Legislators State Legislators are actively canvassing for n increase of salaries from £SOO to £7OO.

MELBOURNE GAS STRIKE. SYDNEY, June 14

Clouds are. considered to he looming on the industrial horizon and anything mav happen in the next day or two. This is owing to Melbourne coal being declared “black.”' The Union officials are doing their best to prevent any catastrophe. , Melbourne city is almost in total dark ness. Flares are being used at the rail, way stations, and hurricane lamps m public buildings. . The congregations in the churches! yesterday were exhorted from the pulpits to bring their own lights. A limited supply of electricity is avail able ,but. not sufficient to enable factories to carry on. Volunteer workers at the gas works are engaged in getting up a supply. Coal and coke at the gasworks have been declared “black,” and may not he removed.

The trouble may extend to the tramsas owing to the employment of a. nonunionist’driver on one service, the men threaten to cease' work. It is also probable the wharf labouiers will refuse to handle the coal for the gasworks. Tlie electric tram services have suspended. Thousands of people walk to work. One fear is at present for the sewerage, if the engineers of this service carry, out their fjhreat into execution and cease work. The dismal outlook- is made worse by a fuel shortage and by steady rain which set in yesterday. t