AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAIJLE ASSOCIATION. FEDERAL POLITICS. (Kc«eivcd this dav at 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 16. Policy speeches by three Federal Raders arc announced to he delivered in New South Wales during the next week, Mr Hughes oil the 23rd, at Chatswood, Mr Charlton on 241 h at Maitland and Mr Page on ,25th at Grafton.

FEDERAL DEFENCES. SYDNEY, Oct. 10.

As the result of the defence estimates passed on Friday the pcisoiine! of the fleet will total four thousand as against 4,843 last year. The ships in commission will number 13 against 25. Military and permanent forces 1,603 against 2,495; citizen forces 31,000 against 184,000; senior cadets 35,000 against 99,000; junior cadets nil against 50,000.

FEDERAL CUSTOMS. (Received this day at 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE. Oct. 16. The Minister for Customs announced that on Ist Novetnlier there will be a reduction of duties on jams, canned

fruits, jelly, c-hrystnls and other manufactured products containing sugar, proportionate with the reduced price of sugar. The Minister also made a statement justifying the duties of sulphur and superphosphates. He explained that the price of- the latter in Victoria was reduced five shillings per ton last week, proving that the duty did not involve a higher price tor farmers. The tariff board reported Australia manufactured 462,000 tons of superphosphates annually. The sulphur required was 46,000 tons and the amount available was 32,000 tons. Though the American tariff banned all farm products of Australia, some Australian primary producers were prepared to give a tree market to American sulphur, instead of establishing a great industry for Australia. AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. SYDNEY, Oct. to. The “Herald” reports that the riders in the Warramobol race met a strong headwind all the way, which accounted for the slow times. An unfortunate incident which had an important bearing on the race-occurred at the entrance to Ascot racecourse, where the race finished. A largo banner erected at the entrance blew down and one of the leading bunch of competitors fell and brought down most of the others, including four who had led all the way from Warrambool. Hill, who was immediately behind, took advantage of the opportunity. It is thought that but for the accident tinresult. might have been different.