AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 18818, 11 May 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

COST OF LIVING. RETAIL GROCERS’ TROUBLES. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, May 10. (Received May 10, 9.30 p.m.) Evidence given before the Committee's Commission on behalf of the Retail Grocers' Association declared that owing to fixed prices and being in the hands of wholesalers, retailers were compelled either to break the law or sell at a loss. It was only a matter of time before the retailers were driven into bankruptcy. The Government is starting an inquiry into the maintenance of the high prices of meat in view of the plethora of stock offering. A butter famine is threatened. Owing to the dry and cold weather country supplies have seriously diminished. DISPOSAL OF WOOL. PROPOSED SALE TO CENTRAL POWERS. MELBOURNE, May lu. The Wool Council is considering the proposal by Mr Hughes to dispose of half a million bales of low-class wool at present in Australia to the Central Powers at three times the apraised price, payment being one-third gold and the rest in bonds, repayable in three years. SHORTAGE OF HOPS, BREWERS CONCERNED. SYDNEY, May 10. (Received May 10, 9.30 p.m.) The shortage of the Tasmanian bop crop, together with the small supplies from Victoria and Now Zealand, is causing the brewers concern. The price of Tasmanian hops is fixed at 8/2 per pound, almost trAle the former price.

THE CHEESE COMMANDEER. MELBOURNE, May 10. Advice has been received that the British Government has decided not to make a further purchase of imported cheese. NORTON ESTATE CASE. McCLINTOCK SENT TO GAOL. SYDNEY, May 10. (Received May 11, 1.50 aan.) Mcdintock was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Mcdintock, an employee of the trustees of the estate of the late John Norton, was charged with stealing a cheque for £IOOO, the property of the estate. An accountant gave evidence that the defalcations totalled £2&353.