AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1921, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

VARIOUS CABLED HEMS

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

A SECRET CONFERENCE

(Received this day at 10.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 6.

The Coal Employees Federation lies despatched two delegates to a secret conference in Europe, presumably in Russia. The departure was enshrouded in mystery. The delegates sailed as members of the steamer’s crew.

FEDERAL POLITICS. (Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April (i. The Country Party elected Doctor Erie Page, as leader, vice Mr McWilliams and Air Gregory as deputy. They • also decided not to support the motion by Mr Fowler, who proposes to formally i move the motion and allow it to lapse. ■ i | REDUCED BUTTER PRICE. (Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.) MELBOURNE, April G. Dairy produce merchants decided on a reduction in the juice of butter by J 7i pence wholesale, and S)d to 9d. I retail. ADELAIDE, April (5. Representatives of the producing trade have reduced the price of butter |by spi wholesale, i I NEW CATTLE DISEASE. i (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) j BRISBANE, April G. I A new cattle disease of French origin ■ known as petechel fever has broken out I among stocks in the central west. It was previously known in Victoria. The ' symptoms consist of enormous swellings 'of the whole*breast and head, assuin- : ing gigantic proportions, the legs bc- ' coming thick as tree trunks. Tho department of Agriculture advises isolation and fresh pastures.. Failure to ! comply is attended by death in forty days after infection. j MOUNT MORGAN .MINES. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) BRISBANE, * April G. Boyd, Manner of the Mount Morgan is conferring with Mr Theodore to-day with a view to restarting the mines, which will be definitely closed, unless the miners accepted the twenty per cent reduction in wages. ! THE LABARTE TRIAL. i (Received This Day at 12.2(1 p.m.) j SYDNEY, April G. i At the Labarto trial, medical evidence was submitted in support of the plea that Labartc "as temporarily insane, and unable to recollect what occurred at the time of the tragedy as ii result of liis experiences at the war, «here he was injured, and by excessivedrinking. The Chief Justice, summing up, said any sentiments as regards the accused’s war services must bo set aside. Drunkenness did not absolve a man from criminality, though intent was not to be attributed to so readily to a man under the influence of liquor. Labarto ploaded not guilty to the second charge of murdering Constable Mitchell. The hearing of this charge is indefinitely postponed. F R FIG HTX Q U ESTION. Received this day at 2.3 G p.m 1 SYDNEY, April G. A cable sent on 23rd. March stated the London manager of the Commonwealth Steamship line was introducing cut rates for frozen meat cargoes As a result of the announcement shippers operated and then approached the Commonwealth line for space at reduced rate, but were informed that no space was available, tit these rates* till next vear. They complained that the misleading announcement involved them in heavy losses. Overseas shipowners now officially state that the reduction was hurriedly announced by the management of the Commonwealth line, as it was really made by the Britih Food Ministry on 23rd. March to operate until the end of the present month. Front then the shipping companies were freed from control and at liberty to fix their own rates.