Australia.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 294, 10 December 1914, Page 8

Australia.

SAMOAN TRADE.

WILL IT CO TO AMERICA? ' . United Press Association. Sydney, December 9. A Sydney business man, who has returned from Saoma, says that tiade previously held by the Germans is 'jarred by the fact that since the ter•itory has been occupied by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force no [raft remittances or coin could be sent out. Consequently merchants anxious to purchase Australian goods could only pay in produce, but while die market price remained at low igures the producers refused to barter. Meantime , shipments were going to America. He was afraid that America would capture trade legitimately belonging to Australia. < He suggests that the authorities be askto issue drafts, or to establish a bank in Apia.

SEIZURE OF THE WHEAT CROP.

(Received 10.0 a.m.) Sydney, December 10. In the Council an amendment altering the fixed price of seized wheat from five shillings to six' shillings was negatived by twenty-three to ten. The Bill was then amended, leaving it open to the seller to appeal to the Commodities Commission, which body was given power to increase the Government price after hearing evidence. Mr Flowers intimated tffat the Government did not want to seize all wheat unless necessary. Farmers could sell unseized wheat how and where they liked. The Council passed the Taxation Bills.

The House accepted the Council’s amendments, and the session ended and the House adjourned till January 27th. The Commodities Commission recommended the Government to issue a proclamation against oho increased prices of beer and spirits. No action has yet been taken. DENIAL OF A RUMOR. Melbourne, December 10. Mr Pearce emphatically denied a rumor that the Australasians in Egypt had been engaged by the enemy.