AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1921, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

AUST’iUMAN AND N.Z. OAnLE ASSOCIATION. FEDERAL MATTERS. { SYDNEY, Nov 12. j Preparations are being mado to oi- i "•anise a voluntary wheat pool to take advantage of Mr Hughes’ offer j of 3s per bushel. MELBOURNE, Nov. 12._ Sir .T. Cook has resigned his seat in the House of Representatives. Mr Page attacked tho system of appointing High Commissioners, contending the Commissioner should he _a member of Parliament, with Iho designation of Minister of Imperial affairs._ Mr Hughes replied that, tho Commissioner would then he the puppet of the reidiing par'tv instead of <a roprosentatTvo of the nation, adding that Mr Page had not the slightest, idea of the qualifications required for the post. Mr Hughes announced the Ministry had pruned the estimates to tho extent. oC half a million, which with S 7. r i thousand in London as the Commonwealth share of the Army occupation payments.. reduced the estimated deficit of £2.917.000 liy TiofT. Replying to' a deputation from the moat industry. Mr Hughes stated Government could not interfere with the business management of Commonwealth steamers. He was unable therefore to promise reduced froigbls. and reiterated that Britain was unable to give preference to H' o Dominion meat, without the increasing cost of food which was unlhinknble.. Respecting subsidies lie bad eonimunieated with non AA . Churchill suggesting if the British Government. would subsidise the meat industry bv a farthing per pound. Hie Commonwealth Government would do likewise, and sfiipownors would lie c\-- ! peeled to do the Mine. Do suggested Now Zealand should come in also, but if she did not. the Commonwealth would act independently.

plague spreading. BRISBANE. Nov. It. Five new cases of plague in Hie city since Saturday are reported. A number of infected rids continue to be caught.