AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

AI EAT TRADE. SYDNEY, Juno 22

AYitjh reference to the depression in the- meat trade tlie Sydney “Alorning Herald” says: ‘‘For some time export houses have boon losing heavily. Several freezing works closed down and n number of exporters have gone out of business. One authority places exporters losses at two millions sterling. Other members regard this as a conservative estimate and point out that the losses continue hut cannot go on indefinitely, and if more exporters are forced out of the trade stock owners must suffer. A number of factors have contributed to create this unsatisfactory position, one of the chief being the increase in the cost of operating freezing works, which has gone up one hundred per cent, while the prices of exported meat in London are down. Ail organised effort on the part of the Commonwealth Government, pnstornlists and those interested in meat export trade is strongly urged in order to retrieve the position.”

RECORD AVHEA.T YIELD. BERTH. June 22.

For 1926-27 season Australia had a record wheat yield of 30,011,783 bushels which is nine millions greater than the previous year. The average yield was 11.7 bushels to the acre.

SOLDIERS’ HOMES. SYDNEY. June 22

The Commissioner for War Service Homes reports the commission expended nearly twenty-four million sterling in the erection of nearly thirty-one thousand soldiers homes, all over the Commonwealth and in purchase of land in anticipation of further applications. Ten million loans have been repaid as a decision of the increased efficiency of the organisation and the number of purchasers who are meeting their obligations. Arrears of instalments are equal to only one per rent, while administrative ’fosses which in 1926 totalled forty-two thousand sterling, were last year changed into a surplus of twenty-two thousand sterling. It Is anticipated the current year’s surplus will be greater.

N.S.W. DISQUALIFICATIONS. SYDNEY, June 22. J. Munro. otm of tbe leading Australian jockeys, lias been disqualified for twelve months by tbe Jockey Clu’ Stipendiary Stewards for improper conduct in connection with the running of the horse Song Gift at Canterbury Park Meeting on Saturday. The horse and trainer, S. B. Kelly, were disqualified far a similar period.

.MEAT TRADE LOSSES. MELBOURNE, June 23. Losses suffered by four Victorian cooperative freezing companies at Ballarat, Bendigo, Murtio and Donald will throw ti burden of about 6100.000 this year upon the State Government. This amount is in respect of guarantees given by the ministry to banks against losses by the companies. The latter now owe the Ministry between three and four hundred thousand sterling and have lost all the capital invested in the concerns. The -Minister for Markets is filling a conference of meatproducers to consider the proposals of the Federal Government for the reorganisation of the export meat trade. The proposals aim at securing assistance to stock owners of the Commonwealth. placing the industry on a better footing, by the appointment of an Advisory Board in each stale to replace the Meat Council, which ceased functioning n coupi'e of years ago. New South Wales. Victoria and Vest Australia have approved of the scheme. The other States arc* still considering it. but it is hoped to bring the new organisation into life before the close of the year.