AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

’Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS. SYDNEY, Nov. 10.

Speaking at a civic reception to visiting delegates to the conference of Associated Booksellers ol Australia and New Zealand, Mr Ryko (Queensland) said booksellers .should be left to their work without any censorship. New Zealand bad its censorship of books which was opposed to the interests of the community.

Mr TI. C. South (New Zealand) den--1 ied this. Be stated the New Zealand censorship was carried out fairly and discreetly. THE VICTORIAN Rf'sH FIRES. MELBOURNE. March 10. A change of wind, accompanied by rain, has checked the lm.-di tires in the Warbiirtnn district. Before the fires were checked a number of fire-fighters were badly hunted. It now seems that there is no likelihood of further outbreaks. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. SYDNEY, March 10. At to-day's wool sales there was keen competition and a strengthened demand for medium fleece wools and good skirtings. The market shows no change from the previous sales of the week. Greasy merino sold to 27;|d per lb. WHEAT KB EIGHT SLUAIP. SYDNEY, March 10. Since the beginning of the year, the wheat freight market lias steadily dropped. It lias now reached the lowest point seen for many years, probably the lowest since before the war. The outlook is very had. since a large amount of tonnage is offering, with little prospect of engagement. The seasonal winter depression now promise* to he the worst faced by tho shipowners itt the Australian trade for many years. The earlier season freight rate from Westralia was forty shillings per ton. The latest steamer fixture was only 20s 3d.

BUTTER BRICE RAISED. SYDNEY. March 10. The wholesale price of butter was increased to-day by Is 8(1 per ewt, to 130 s 8d per ewt. AIR LANG’S TACTICS I TO IIAIUIY THE GOVERNOR. SYDNEY. March 10. It is stated that if the New South Wales Government fails in its efforts to induce the Dominions Office to recall the Governor, it proposes to make hi-, position as uncomfortable as possible, in the hole of forcing his resignation. Premier Lang’s idea is to secure the appointment as Governor of either ■i native-born Australian or the Governor of olio of the other Stales, possibly Sir James O’Grady. Governor of Tasmania. GOOD QUEENSLAND RAINS. BRISBANE, .March 10. Good rains along practically the whole Queensland coast have broken the protracted dry spell. Heavy rains are also reported inland. AUSTRALIAN WAR EXPENDITURE Al ELBOUBNE. March 11. In the House of Representatives, replying to a question, the Treasurer, Dr Earl Page, said that the amount received bv Australia in reparations to date was 0377.390. Australia’s total share of the reparations was £0.302,000. The total war expenditure hv Australia to the .‘list December, 1025. was 0533,(127.000. The chief items were: Interest (including interest on the war gratuity bondd L 131.750.000 ; war pensions to soldiers and dependents 051.432.000; war gratuities to soldiers and dependents. 027,435.000; vocational training in hospital .017.75(1,000; soldier land settlement 03 1.71 7.000.

KIBE DAMAGE. SYDNEY, March 11. The damage at Mollwraith’s fire is now estimated at 115(1.001) sterling. Tt is estimated the tire waste throughout Australia since the beginning of the year is over three million sterling. D UXTR OOX At I LIT Alt Y COLLEGE. MEI.BOrnXK. March 11. The hiinual report of the lloyal Military College at Dimtroon for the year 1021-25. cclihTi was tabled in the House of Representatives, shows that the annual intake of cadets is now twi'.'iitv-one and for these positions there were forty applicants. Tho strength of the staff and cadets is now 50. which is the greatest since 1021.

The expenditure for the financial ear totalled £10.581.