AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1928, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) BREAD IN WRAPPERS. REFORM IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, Dec. 30. Tho public and also those in the trade will watch with keen interest tho operation of one baking company's scheme to give the people of Sydney, or at least those who constitute its customers, their morning bread wrapped: in hermetically-sealed wax paper wrappers. In New South Wales and possibly in other parts of Australia, bread is about the only food product sold to the public that is not wrapped. There lias been an agitation for a long time past for the reform which at least one company is now courageusly introducing. The feeling has been that if. in England and in America, wrapped bread is rapidly increasing in favour, there is no apparent reason why the same method cannot be generally adopted out here. Possibly, it will now find general practice in Sydney if the company, which is undertaking the reform can convince the trade of the desirability of it. In America, it is said, quite 80 per cent, of the bread made is delivered in printed and waxed paper wrapiier*. A lot of people would also like to see their milk delivered in hermetically-sealed bottles.

SEAMEN’S DISPUTE. SYDNEY, Jan. 5. There are now six steamers idle through the seamen’s dispute; three at Sydney, and one each at Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. It is anticipated in shipping circles that unless the seamen man the idle ships within a few days, tho owners will issue an ultimatum calling upon the union to supply full crews for all vessels, otherwise a general group he ordered.

SYDNEY WOOL SALE. - SYDNEY, .Tan. ti. At the Sydney wool sales there keen competition for well-grown wools and prices tor all the better classes showed a hardening tendency. All other description sold at full rates. Greasy merino sold to 33$ pence. UNLUCKY YEAR FOR. MINERS. SYDNEY, Jan. fi. Last year was one of the worst experienced by the miners in the South Maitland coalfields for many years. I ’eta win ain and Aberdare were the only collieries, which were worked for more than two hundred days, while records lor previous years show there were over twelve collieries about the two hundred working days mark. Deputies trouble and floods were responsible for over three weeks lost time, hut sectional stoppages and slackness of trade accounted for many lost days. Out of thirteen pays up to the end of the year some miners drew less than two days per fortnight.

COMMERCIAL. MELBOURNE, Jan. 6. M heat is quiet at 5s 4)d ; flour £l2 Is, £l3 10s, bran £6 10s, pollard £7 10s ; oats, milling 4s 3d, 4s 3d, feed 4s, 4s Id ; barley, English 5s 6d, Cape 4s fid; potatoes £4 10s, £5; onions £4 10s. AUSTRALIA’S BORROWING. MELBOURNE, Jan. fi. In his annual address to members of the Stock Exchange, -Mr F. Woods, Chairman, expressed concern at the rate whereat Australia was borrowing. He said economy, with discretion, appeared to be more necessary than ever. The national debt was increasing at a greater rate than it should. The question of national debt should he carefully examined for during the past year borrowing increased by nearly £35,000,000. There seemed to be a tendency to get everything under control, except cost of production and borrowing.