COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 63, 17 March 1915, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

THE PRINCIPLE OF TRIAL BY JURY. United Press Association. (Received 10 a.m.) Melbourne, March 17. The High Court of Australia has dismissed the appeal in the Bernasconi case. Judge Murray stated a special case on several grounds, the main point being whether Bernasconi had the right to claim a trial by jury. The Chief Justice said the section of the Constitution providing for a trial by jury related only to offences created by Parliament by Statutes passed in the execution of functions described as “the laws of the Commonwealth.” The request for a jury was therefore rightly refused. Justice Isaacs and Justice Rich concurred. N.S.W. STATE-BAKING SCHEME. PROTEST BY BAKERS’ UNION. (Received 9.30 a.m.) Sydney, March 17. A mass meeting of the bakers’ union with reference to Mr Hall’s Statebaking scheme passed a resolution condemning any action of the Government tending to minimise labor or throw out of employment hundreds of men. It was stated that under a State-baking scheme five out of .six bakers now employed would become idle. THE PRICE OF FODDF • (Received 10.0 a.m.) Melbourne, March 17. A deputation of users of I 'c.der pointed out to the Minister of Agriculture that a year ago chaff was procurable at £3 15s per ton, but now it stood at £lO 10s. It was calculated there was a shrinkage of 200,000 tons of fodder stocks in Victoria, and prices did not show any tendency to ease. The Minister of Agriculture replied that there was not much hope of relief. The Government was importing lucerne from California af £8 10s landed, and chaff was being bought in New Zealand at £5 to £5 15s; but with the price of bags, freight, and other charges the cost was £9 to £9 15s landed in Melbourne. There were also the risks of importing from different countries owing to various stock diseases.