COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 58, 8 July 1915, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

MILITARY SCANDAL ENDED. United Press Association. (Received 10.10 a.m.) Melbourne, July 8. It is announced that as a result of Mr Hughes’ finding in connection with the Raveiiseroft case, Ravenscroft’s services have been dispensed with and the Commission cancelled.

During May a court-martial was held on Captain Lionel Rabbington ,i Raveiiseroft on three charges of three -counts' each; of stealing and receiving a camera, chronometer; and type- . writer, the property of persons untkiiown. Rayenscroft Was appointed Provost-marshal at Rabaul, entailing control of a large amount of Germans’ The articles were discovered in Raveiiseroft-’s possession upon 1 returil'uig' to Sydney. ‘ The Court dis- | missed the* charges regarding the typewriter Und chronometer. Ravenscroft, in his(defence, stated that the.;! strictest inquiry was: made for the owner of the camera, but he failed to find him, and he ( was under the belief that' he or any other officer or man could take any property they •found in a •'private house if the owner was not to he found. The Court’s verdict was “not guilty on all charges. ’’ ■&■■■

FINDING OF THE MEAT INQUIRY

(Received 11.0 a.m.)

Melbourne, July 8

Mr Justice Hood’s finding in the .Royal Commission into the export of frozen meat was that the firm of Thomas Borthwick and Sons were guilty of a breach of the agreement, and raised unwarranted difficulties, as none of* the other shippers did so. The ■Commission also found that W. C. , Angess loaded- the transport ’ A 36 in order to 'avoid' probable prohibition, occasioning loss to himself, but that for Angess to load the transport A 37 was a wilful disobedience of the Government’s decision; 4> < f

THE!- BRITISH WAR LOAN.

(Received 11.30 a.m.) Melbourne, July 8

In the House, Mr Fisher announced that the Governor of the Commonwealth Bank had denied applying for a portion of the British war loan.

THE BUTTER FAMINE. _■ __ (I* . (Received 11.30 a .m.) ; * -Sydney,' July 8. The Government has'decided to imp6rt| our butter. Mr Hall stated that he preferred to have left the importation to private 'enterprise, but the discovering they crtiild get Id per lb more in other States ,would send'the butter away.

AWAY WITH PARTY POLITICS.

(Received 11.0 a.m.) , Melbourne, July 8

Me Cook, referring to the Liberal Cnufel-ehce’s^ said: “Tlfei further and the sooner we get away from party” politics " the better, as there is something greater on hand. .We have to decide a very’ important issue, viz., whether we will have an Australian or a German fey-stem of Government. It is'the most supreme of' all questions with' which we have been confronted, and is the gravest

issue Australians have ever faced.” >

THE FASTORALISTS’ REVIEW.

(Reeeived 11.0 a.m.) Sydney, duly 8,

Mr Oakden, presiding at the annual meeting of the Union of New South Wales, stated that 35,713 carcases of mutton and 420 quarters of beef had been given to the various funds. The season had been exceptionally adverse, a large portion of the Commonwealth having been in the grip of the drought, which was of greater severity than in 1902. The outlook had improved, though the immediate benefit ; was not so great as might have been expected. There was a decrease during the year of over. 3$ million sheep and- two hundred thousand cattle while lambing had been very seriously; '’affected. With reference to the many staple products of wheat, flour, and butter, it was to be regretted that the crude experimental action of the QoveVn-

ment in fixing the prices below market rates and world parity, had virtually converted the scarcity into a famine.

THE ANTI-LIQUOR CAMPAIGN, EARLY CLOSING ADVOCATES. , , , (Received 1.35 p.m.) Two large influential temperance deputations petitioned Mr Hall to institute six o’clock closing of hotels. Archdeacon Boyce pointed out that the late closing hours led to excessive drinking, fights, brawls, and immorality.

The Archbishop of Sydney said it was evident* Australia was leading in the campaign against excessive drinking. There was no reason’‘why the sale of drink should not cease at six o’clock in the evening like other commodities.

Rev. Hammond said any politician who failed to realise the temper of the present hour, which had shown itself in favour of reform, wouki soon sink into oblivion.

Mr Hall replied that he favored nationalisation to a short cut to prohibition, but promised to make the representations on early closing to the Cabinet as stfongly as possible.