AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1923, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

IUSTItAI.TAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION DROUGHT IN NEW SOUTH WALKS. SYDNEY. October 31. There have been useful rains in many parts of the State, which.have partially relieved the position. ’The situation' i- hecilining serious, owing to continued droughty conditions. Wheat crops and feed in the dairying districts have suffered severely. Much heavier fail/ of rain are required to give full relief. Though the outlook in the Western wheat areas lias improved, the rain is regarded as coining too late to raiso the bulk of the crops. TASMANIAN POLITICS. «r IIOBART October 31. In the Tasmanian Assembly, .Mr Llobbs is the teml'orary Lender cf tno Opjro.sition. 10-day be moved a want-(■i-cimlideiuo motion in the Government Ibe debate was adjoin lied. DOCTORS’ APPEAL ANSWERED. ;.Received this dav at 5?.-15 n.iu.) SYDNEY. Nov 1. Doctors at Llm Sydney Hospital aj>pettled for volunteers to supply skin for grafting on to a patient who otherwise would lose a leg and three men and boy r immediately responded. EVERY SECOND AUSTRALIAN A GAMBLER. SYDNEY. NtTv. I. Tile Congregational I nioii s Public Morals Committee states that ail exhaustive inspection of the picture shows discloses very few to which exception could be taken; but it strongly condemns the gambling evil, declaring that twenty millions annually are spent in Australia on horse racing. It would be difficult to deny the fact that every second Australian was a gambler in some form or other. PONY RACING IN AUSTRALIA. (Received this day at 9.25 a.in.) SYDNEY, Nov. 1. Before the select committee enquiring into jKiny racing the Secretary of the Pony Owners' Association considered i!m Government should buy out the Proprietary Clubs lock, stock, and bnnHb re I. Under the present Act the Associated Racing Clubs bad an absolute nionoply of pony racing and exercised autocratic powers. Hi regard to gate charges and in other directions the public and the pony owners should get something instead of all the money going into the pockets of the Proprietors.

COLONIAL SUGAR GOV. HALF-YEARLY MEETING. tßeoeived this dav at 8 a.in.) ■SYDNEY, Oct. 31. At the half-yearly meeting of tho Colonial Sugar Refining Company, tln> usual statements oi accounts were not submitted. The Commission was attributed to the withdrawal of control of sugar by the Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments and the acceptance by Queensland of the position held by the Federal authorities which made it. impossible to close the books on September 30th. In addition the winding tip of the Fiji Company has not yet been settled. The board nevertheless decided to make payable forthwith an interim dividend of 23s per share. The report stated that despite the dry weather the Australia production of sugar at the mills and in Fiji will b;> near the estimate of May last and the crops of 1024 will be larger if the weather is favourable. Tiie Chairman. Mr Knox, stated that the interim dividend was at the same rate as the last half year, hut as the capital has since been increased the payment be 05s as against 20s ill May last. The amount divisable was thus again the same as paid in 1914 before the separation of the Companies.