AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1930, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

WHEAT BUYERS, IN A DILEMMA. (Australian Press Association.) (.Received tins nay at 8 a.m.) ' SYDNEY, Dec. 20. Wheat buyers and shippers declare the Wheat Advances Act just passed oy the federal Rariminent has lext them in a dilemma and trade at a standstill. The guarantee has been fixed at 3s per bushel Lo.b., and tlie fact that the 'Commonwealth Bank lias declined to advance more than 2s Pel, merchants want to know who will be responsible lor' the deficiency. Moreover it is pointed out that the Government lias not protected itself against inefficiency, wastefulness, or indifferent marketing, consequently merchants fear chaos and are making no arrangements lor oversea freight.

SUGAR EMBARGO. > MELBOURNE, Dec. 20. Pending the receipt of a report of the committee investigating the effect of the sugar embargo, the Federal Government will take no action to cancel 'the embargo, against which there is already a considerable volume of evidence. The Assistant Minister of Markets stated the present agreement was likely to be renewed for a limited period of yearn on condition that there is a considerable reduction in the price of sugar to consumers. RETALIATION. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 20. The French Consul has caibled to the French Government urging it to impose a special duty on Australian scoured wool, as a retaliatory measure. ATTEMPTED MURDER. HOBART, December 19. Convicted at the third trial of attempting to murder his wife, Archibald Bellette was sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment. EXCHANGE PROBLEM. . SYDNEY, December 18. A member of the Federal Ministry recently stated that the Government favoured an increase in the exchange rates. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Fenton.) now points out that while the Government considers the rate should be increased the control of the matter rested with the banks and other large financial institutions . The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Latham, expresses the opinion that the exchange rate should be review ed. THE MISSING MIGRANTS

SYDNEY, December 19. The Orient Company are offering a reward of £lO per head for the capture of the missing prohibited Italian migrants, nine from the Otranto and five from the Oxford. THE WOOL SLUMP. MELBOURNE, December 19. Mr J. M. Niall, Chairman of Goldsborough Mort. stated the gross returns from Australia sales of woo? for the past three years to June 30 were as follows 1928 . ££60,500,000 millions sterling; 1929, £56,720,000; a still lower total would be shown for the current financial year, EXTRA TAX. SYDNEY, December 18. Taxpayers of New South Wales received another shock to-day when a statement was published that the Lang Government is considering a direct levy of 2s in the pound on all incomes over an amount to be determined, in addition to the one shilling in the pound already passed by the Assembly.

LABOUR AFFAIRS. (Received this dav at 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 20/ The announcement that five to six thousand retail employees have to be dismissed if the anti-rationing clause of the Forty-four Hour Bill, cabled yesterday, became operative, was made by the Retail Traders Association. The Minister of Labour and Industry, Mr Baddelcy, receives a deputation from the Association on Monday when strong representations will be made against the Government proposals. UNWANTED ITALIANS. SYDNEY, Dec. 20. Two Italians alleged to have escaped from the Otranto were arrested at Goulburn. The Orford sails this morning with fifty-two Italians who have been detained since arrivel on 3rd December. QIJEENsLAND IMPROVING. BRISBANE, Dec. 20. Premier Moore referring to the trading banks statement regarding the financial position, declared he felt that so far as Queensland waP concerned. the drift had been checked, and in view of the economies effected, Queensland was in a better position to meet the difficulties ahead than some State Governments. Queens, land had arrived at the stage where the position was improving.