AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUEIEALIAN AND N.Z. OABLX ASBOCIATIO.N. BENEFITS OF FRUIT CONTROL. BRISBANE, AUG. 10. The report of the Committee of Direction under the Queensland Marketing Organisation Act, claims as result of the control and the committee’s work, the fruitgrowers have benefited tu the extent of nearly 9100,00(1. In addition there is a credit of nearly £IO,OOO in the banana, trade. During the first six months of 1923 the number of cases sent to Sydney and Melbourne was 18!),188 and the No. ol eases during the corresponding period

of 1924 was 207,111, and in 1923 the number ruse to 120.331. I' rom the estimates supplied by the various centres it appears probable that towards the end of the year production will again largely incease. If all the present markets are fully supplied at a reasonaide price it is likely a surplus of from live to ten thousand eases weekly will have to he exported. With this object in view the New Zealand market is being investigated and all tho possibilities in Canada.

SEAPLANE RAISED. -MELBOURNE, August 10 The seaplane from the United States battleship Pennysylvania, which crashed in the water on 3rd July, was located and raised by some local yachtsmen. The plane is in fairly good condition, except the wings. The question of legal ownership has yet to ho decided, hut it is thought it is still the property of the Pennyslyvaiiia. EXPORT POOLS. SYDNEY, August 10. Following a request by the Farmers and Settlers Conference for the creation ol a compulsory wheat pool, eontrolled by the wheat, growers, the Cabinet have decided that if a compulsory wheat- pool is established, it must he controlled by the Government.

The Farmers’ Conference passed a resolution in favour of a wool stabilisation scheme on the lines if Sir .1. Higgins’ proposals, controlled by representatives of the wool growers. BENEFITS OF CONTROL. SYDNEY. August 11.

If. G. Ttieh. sales organiser of the New South Wales Citrus Association who recently returned from New Zealand stated he had come to tho conelusion that the present system of marketing by individual farmers and speculators resulted in considerably lower returns than could he obtained by a proper regulation ol supplies and the export only of high class standardised fruit, lie gave as an example one firm which secured fifteen per cent more for its fruit than was secured by shipping to New Zealand under tho old method. Mandarin orange- growers had also secured substantially increased returns. The greatest competition South Wales had to meet in New Zealand was common oranges largely grown at Cook Islands. Shipping and marketing however were nnsatislaetory. Mr TTuTi expects the export to New Zealand this season front 30 to ,5 thousand eases of New Smith Males oranges. He considers to the great extent the safe arrival of oranges depends upon the skilled attention ol the stall, lie instanced two shipments under exactly the same conditions, hot' carried on deck, one covered and the other uncovered. I Ik* tormer arrived in splendid condition, and the latter were badly soaked with water. HORSES FOR ARMY.

I’residing at the annual meeting of the New South Wall's Lancers Association, Lieut. Colonel McMahon sounded a note of warning when he said if we Were suddenly called upon to provide mounts for a few light horse brigades we would have the greatest difficulty in tloing so as tlu* brooder ot the type of horse required for military purposes was fast going out of business. No encouragement, was given the breeder of horses which would lie required in en-c lII' national emergency. He said the increase in tin* number of motor cars was having a depressing etleet on the horse breeding industry.

A SHOOTING AFFRAY. MELBOURNE, August II

A sensational shooting fatality occurred at Bacchus Marsh, when a labourer employed at Greystoue station fired several shots at his mates killing one and wounding two. Twelve men were working at Greystono repairing a dam and had frequently teased Thomas Ferguson, who it is said, is a wee hit simple. Yesterday Ferguson decided not to work as he wanted to shoot rabbits, and was given leave by the emit rad or. lie left the camp apparently in the best of spirits. Just on knocking off Lime he appeared about thirty yards from tin* dam dramatically waving a repealing rifle, hut saving nothing. He raised it to his shoulder ani) pointed it at his work mates. Thinking he was joking the men merely laughed. Ferguson pulled the trigger and William Smith of I’raliran. fell mortally wounded. Turning the muzzle in the direction of Charles McGowan lie fired and hit him in the shoulder. Lie then shot Thomas Riddoul in the arm. Though bleeding freely, Riddoul rushed at Ferguson and grapoled with hint in an attempt in wrest the rifle away. A fierce struggle followed, wherein the other workmen joined and Ferguson was overpowered and handed over to the police. Later lie was charged villi murder. The three victims are married men.