AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 18825, 19 May 1920, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

SHORTAGE OF MINISTERS. CHURCH CONFERENCES’ DIFFICULTIES. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, May 18. 1 (Received May 18, 5.5 p.m.) I Both the Presbyterian and Methodist Gen- i eral Assemblies are confronted with a seri- j ous shortage of men offering for the ministry. One of the chief causes is said to be the war, which, besides drawing students to the front, interfered with the training of others As regards the Presbyterians it was stated : that the war had broken the church-going j habit of many young men, and also that the j mental and physical strain of the war years ; is causing exhaustion and consequent loss of ministerial candidates, but it is hoped that the lost ground will soon be recovered. The Methodist Conference decided to meet the shortage by importing from England 35 ex-service theological unmarried students. As regards the immigration bureau it was decided to seek the co-operation of other churches in a scheme including a possible arrangement with the New Zealand Methodist Conference. ACUTE WHEAT SHORTAGE. CRISIS IN THE MILLING INDUSTRY. SYDNEY, May 18. At a meeting of flounoillers to discuss the wheat shortage it was stated that farmers were unable to obtain bran for horses, cattle and poultry, and the industry was on the verge of collapse. Stocks of wheat at the mills average one week's supply. The meeting sent a message to Mr Hughes that unless supplies were maintained through the year the result would be disastrous to the dairying and poultry industries. COAL FAMINE AT ADELAIDE. CONSUMERS’ REPRESENTATIONS. ADELAIDE, May 18. A deputation of coal consumers asking the Premier to make a move to relieve the coal shortage caused by the shortage ot shipping on the coast stated that the Gas Company had supplies for only six days and if the Railway Department had not made special arrangements to procure a supply all public services would have been paralysed. The Premier promised to take action.

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. INCREASE OF MEMBERS’ SALARIES. MELBOURNE, May 18. The Chamber of Commerce passed a motion protesting against the proposed increase of salaries for members of the House of Representatives. IMPORTS FROM GERMANY. LICENSES FOR INDISPENSABLE MANUFACTURES. MELBOURNE, May 18. The Government has decided to grant licenses for the importation of indispensable articles manufactured in Germany. EXUBERANT STUDENTS. COMMEMORATION DAY ESCAPADES. SYDNEY, May 18. (Received May 18, 7.25 p.m.) The students’ doings on Commemoration Day have brought about their ears a great public outcry in the press. The opinion is very generally expressed that some of the displays far exceeded the bounds of propriety. PRESBYTERIAN PEACE MEMORIAL. SYDNEY, May 18. The Presbyterian Assembly decided to erect an assembly hall and church offices in the city as a peace thanksgiving memorial, at a cost of £50,000. *_■ SHORTAGE OF BUTTER SYDNEY, May 18.' The butter shortage is acute as the result of the dry spell. Grocers are only able to procure 33 per cent, of orders.