AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1922, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. OABIJt ASSOOpATjON

CHINESE WISHES. ' SYDNEY, May 15

■Local Chinese celebrated the first anniversary of the accession of Sun Yet Sen, by a harbour excursion and luncheon. They sent a message to Sun Yet Sen assuring him of loyalty, and wishing him success of the expedition. PRISONERS ESCAPE. SYDNEY, May 15. Two French military prisoners (cabled on 11th) escaped from the steamer at Newcastle. A QUAKE. MELBOURNE, .May 15. A slight earhquake shock was recorded at the Observatory. The centre was about 1,869 miles away. WESTRALIAN POLITICS. PERTH, May 15. One of the first motions to be disdiscussed in the Legislative Council at the forthcoming session will be to ask for a referendum regarding the advisi--I'ility of the State taking steps to secede from the Federation. TRADE WITH EAST. SYDNEY, May 15. Mr Sheaf, the Australian Trade Commissioner in the East, has outlined a comprehensive scheme providing for Australia securing trade with the East. The .scheme provides for the furnishing of Australian exporters with lists ol goods most 'in demand and the countries from which they are now supplied. On the propaganda side it provides for the establishment of showrooms in all the main strategic centres of trade. DANGER OF COMMUNISM. SYDNEY, May 15. Mr Ley referring to the growth of communism in labour movements, states at present there are men in the movement who are deliberately aiming to bring about a general strike as a prelude to a revolution.

CLOSING DOYX. SYDNEY, May 15. Cockle Creek roasters ami smelters have dosed owing to lack of ore, mainly due to the decreased output of the central mines at .Broken Hill. OBITUARY. SYDNEY, May 15. Obituary.— Doctor Mel.ean, suigcon in charge of Dawson’s Antarctic expedition. AGAINST A STRIKE. MELBOURNE, .May 15. A meeting of gasworkers decided against striking, pending a hurt it! settlement of the dispute. SHEA BEKS’ AWARD. BRISBANE, May 15 At the Arbitration Court, .Justice McCav.hv, delivering judgment in the application of the Graziers’ Association lor variation of the shearers award, said he found nothing in the evidence to lead him to alter the ruling rate of Ills per hundred. EIRE DAMAGE. HOBART, May 15. r. lire destroyed Crisp and Gums timber yard. The damage is C‘25,000. \Y ESTR ALI AN EI. ECTIONS. PERTH, May 15. The Biennial elections for the Legislative Council were marked by small polls. The returns are too incomplete to indicate the result. CATTLE INDUSTRY. SYDNEY, May 15 The “Morning Herald” dealing with the Eederal Government’s beef subsidy scheme, says everybody in the industry is gratified that tdio scheme has been accepted by ail sections, but recognised it is not going to transform cattle men’s position from depression to prosperity in one act. An expert, working out the costs on the new basis, estimates the price paid for prime cattle on stations in Quensland at Cli 10s per lead. Even this low price is better than nothing, and will enable cattle men to dispose of tlioir surplus stock, allowing for station expenditure, killing and other charges. The “lleiahl” says even with the scheme in working, it appears likely the industry will he several million pounds on the wrong side of the balance in the coming season, without consideration of possible losses from drought and disease. Queensland cattle men realise there are very hard times ahead, unless tl io English market improves, or the cost of production is futlher reduced. The position of New South Wales cattle men is regarded as little, if any better than Queensland. The “Jlcrald” adds that in all States, cattle men have received such a setback during the past two years, that the view is strongly held that in the future no country suitable for sheep will run larger stock. It is considered the time is not far distant when Queensland will he running lit) million sheep, nearly twice the present number, by displacing tbe equivalent in cattle.