COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 310, 31 December 1914, Page 2

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

INTERSTATE SHIPPING. [ By Electric Telegraph—Copyright | UnttKit Tress Association. (Received S.oO a.in.) Melbourne, December 31. The Council approved of the Commonwealth light dues charge of 8d per ton net tonnage per quarter on Inter-State oversea trading vessels from April Ist. NORTHERN MINERS’ TROUBLE. (Received 9.10 a.rn.) Sydney, December 31. The Northern miners are seeking a conference of colliery proprietors in connection with the afternoon shift, a request having been submitted to Die Proprietors’ Association, ' v - ; THE WHEAT MARKET. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Svdney, December 31.

The trouble arising out of the stoppage of wheat crossing into ictoria from South-western Riverina is becoming intensified. \ ictorian buyers have notified sellers to complete their parts of the contracts. UNIONS AND ARBITRATION. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Sydney, December 31. Tlie Daily Telegraph, commenting on Mr Fisher’s confession that the unions of Australia spend half their time endeavoring to circumvent the constitution in order to get to the Federal Arbitration, Court, says: What Mr Fisher means is, that if the proposed constitution amendments are carried, the road to a central authority is made open without restiic- , tion. Whether that will be an advantage is quite another matter, jut what the public requires t 6 be convinced about before it votes on a ieferenda again is that it will he an advantage. , AN OPPONENT OF SECTARIANISM (Received 10.20 a.m.) Sydney, December 31. Speaking at the Presbyterian Orphan Homes, Parramatta, the Govei-nor-General (Sir Ronald Munro-Fergu-son) said he had always been a strong supporter of national , education and an opponent to sectarianism, but be would welcome a co-operation of the churches, even in the form of church schools, because of the flexibility and the variety imparted.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF PAPUA. (Received 10.20 a.xn.) Brisbane, December 31. Mr Metcalfe, director of British New Guinea Development Company, has returned from a trip to Papua. He severely criticised the present suicidal policy,pf the,Gpverpment which was not encouraging the construction of the railway from Port Mpresby to Sapphire Creek, or the development of copper mines and minefields, 'which should make Papua self supporting. Regarding the Labor question, Mr Metcalfe denied that, cruelty was shown towards the natives. ~ FORGERY OF BANK NOTES. (Received 10.20 a.m.) Melbourne, December 31. The Treasury has received evidence of an attempt being made to forge Commonwealth ten-shilling notes, some being already in circulation. Although the minutest details of the printing have been reproduced with accuracy,, the crudeness of the coloring and a difference in the quaWty of the paper are pronounced. The Treasury does not anticipate that the fraud will prove extensive, and offers a reward of £IOO for information leading to the conviction of the forger and utterer.

HEAVY WEATHER RECORDED. Sydney, December 30. Heavy rain continues. The highest of many high coastal records is that of Wollongong, with 8J inches. (Received 10.20 a.m.) Hobart, December 31. . There have been unprecedent heavy rains, 800 points being registered on part of the east coast, SHIPPING. (Received 10.10 a.m.) Sydney, December 31, Arrived—Kanna, from Greyraouth COMMERCIAL. Melbourne, December 31. Wheat £6 9s; flour £l4, bran £9 15s, pollard £lO ss, barley (English) 5s 9d to 6s, Cape 4s 3d to 4s 6d, oats 3s lid to 4s lid, maize 4s lOd to 4s 10is, potatoes £7 10s to £8 10s, onions £ll to £ll 10s.