AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[IY TELEGRAM —FER I’RESS ASSOCIATION.] SYDNEY HEAT WAN E. SYDNEY, January 28. The city is sweltering in the throes of a, heat wave. AUSTRALIAN WHEAT TRADE. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY. Jan. ‘.9. Shippers of wheat are finding the rUe in Hie price is being cuuntcr-b.ibiiM-cd to a certain extent b.v tin* recent rapid advance in sea freights at the end ol December. Charters to load wheat at Australian ports were arranged at a rate of -18 s per ton, but on Tuesday last charters for -March loading were fixed at 53s 9d and 55s per tun. With the rates ruling it is the subject of much comment in wheat circles why vessels lying idle in Australian ports are not being commissioned. ELECTRICITY CHARGES REDUCED. SYDNEY. Jan. 29. The City Council has approved ol the recommendations for a reduction in the charges of electricity to the Council’s customers. The reductions which will mean a benefit lo the consumers ol approximately £109,030 will be oi advantage to domestic consumers and business houses. CABINET MEETS ON HARBOUR. 97.6 IN THE SHADE. (Received tins day at 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY. Jan. 29. A heat wave swept the city yesterday, the maximum shade temperature being tti.fi and the sum tcnipci atm e 1-18.4. The State Cabinet, in order to a von. the indoor heat, held its meeting while crossing the harbour in the Government lunch. SELECTION GOES SMOOTHLY. BRISBANE, Jan. 29. The.largest number of seamen attended the -Mercantile Marine Office when the selection of crews for the various vessels proceeded smoothly. MARKETING OF RUTTER. MELBOURNE, Jan. 29. A scheme for stabilising the (onimumvealth markets lor butter and cheese by means of a voluntary levy on the producers, and the payment Horn the fund thus created of a bounty on all butter and cheese exported was adopted by a conference representing Inter-State Producers’ Organisations. The Secretary to the-Conference explained that prices and conditions ut present ruling were causing unrest. Thousands ol men engaged in the industry were striving to get out of it. Any attempt to increase prices within Australia would arouse opposition from the consumers. It was not a scheme for inflating prices beyond wl at was fair and reasonable to provide the farmer with a fair living wage. The proposal was that farmers should pav in first instance a levy of one penny per pound, and the money he used lor the payment of a bounty ol threepence per pound on butter exported. A BIG PRICE. SYDNEY, Jan. 29. The Valais Burletta, v* yearling colt was sold privately for £3,009, the second highest price ever paid in Australia for a yearling. THREE MILLION POWER STATION. GOVERNMENT MAY STOP LOAN. (Received this day at 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. Jan. 29. The City Council has decided to erect a new power station, involving an expenditure in the vicinity of three million sterling. It also decided to cancel the agreement with the Railway Commissioners lor the supply of electricity in bulk. The decision was made on practically a Labour v. Reform vote. Mr Ball, Minister for Works, when acquainted with the decision, said the public need not worry about any unnecessary money being spent by the Council as the Government had the power of veto over loans, which the Council could raise only with the Government’s approval.