COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 3, 6 April 1916, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

A SYDNEY RESIDENT MURDERED [United Press Association.] Sydney, April 5. The body of George Pappageorge a Greek, was found at the rear of his cafe in George Street. His head had been smashed with a cleaver that was alongside him, and a rope was drawn tightly round his neck. The cash register in the shop had been rifled. There is no clue to' thepeipetra tor 6f“ the outrage.'

OPENING OF PETROL COMMISSION. Sydney, April 5. Tiie Royal Commission has commenced taking evidence as to the petrol allegations. According to the opening address of the Crown counsel, Morgan was represented to have said that in any installation under a scheme of nationalising the petrol industry it would he necessary to add something between £IO,OOO and £15,000 for the Minister, and provision would also have to be made for £2OOO or £3OOO for Morgan himself. Sydney April 6.

The Crown Council in opening the case, gave details showing that the Cabinet had instructed Mr Griffith to obtain, the necessary information and submit a scheme for* the nationalisation of petrol. Peed, who was then Superintendent of Stores, investigated the various schemes, and a letter, which was signed by Mr Griffith, authorised Morgan to act ns his agent through Reed., Coming to negotiations for purchase by the British Imperial Oil Co. counsel said: that in. conyersation witli the Sydney uialinger ••of the company, Morgan was represented ,to have said tliat they•cquid rest assured that the company-* ivliibh sprung the highest illicit, '.commission would he the one to-get the supply*; ‘Subsequently, at a ihq&Liug iy Melbourne be-

tweet- Reed and Morgan nhd the Syd-l Hey. and Melbourne managers of the Company, when the question of com-] mission was raised, Reed said it did not interest him. At the second meeting, Reed raised the' same objection, hut stayed by request. Ho pointed out that certain schemes would have to be! refused and somebody placated; be-1 sides, there was the chance of opposition in Parliament, which could bo softened by a suitable provision. Counsel added that no information of the] negotiations with the British Imperial Co. or of the breaking off of negotiations had been communicated to Cabinet or to an individual member of tne Government. The Attorney-General (Mr Hall) gave evidence of being put into possession of certain facts and documents. The Melbourne manager of the Imperial Co, informed him that a commission was to he asked for, to an amount of £32,000 yearly, which, on a ten years’ contract, meant £320,000. Pressed for his reason for thinking that this money should go to the Ministers, the manager answered that the largeness of the commission made him think so and his impression was that all the Ministers were involved. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

(Received 9 a.m.) Melbourne, April 6. Victoria’s apple export figures this season show a record, with 1,300,000 cases. The Hon. Mr O’Malley has issued a warning to the Federal civil servants against “liquoring.” He declares that “stagger-jitjee” -and efficient public business are absolutely incompatible, and ordqrk the -suspension .without pay of any employee found under the influence of drink, or showing any evidence of having used it while on duty in drawing the King’s pay. “King,” O’Malley concludes: We can havie no efficiency without speed , and speed is impossible from muddled-with-whisky brains. Dr; W. H. Dang,- the - Amateur Turf Club handicapper, lias been appointed the V.R.C. handicapper, at a salary of £750. Sydney April 6. It is officially announced that the State Government proposed to erect suburban homes for incapacitated returned soldiers at a cost of £250,000. A block of land will he given free, and the gift safeguards it against disposal. Hobart. April 6. Mr Whitath (Independent) proposes to form a Ministry of both parties. Mr Earle refused, and the Government will resign next week. The cleavage is too great to allow of a coalition. Melbourne, April 6. The food census in February shows a decrease of half a million pounds of beef in the stocks in the cold storage, and one and a half million of mutton and lamb. The decrease was principally confined to Queensland. Sydney, April 5. The Assembly negatived the second reading of the Totalisator Bill which was taken as a matter of urgency. The Council passed the Liquor Referendum Bill. Adelaide, , April 5. The price of flour has been fixed for local consumption at £lO 15s per ton, and bread at 7]d the lib loaf. Melbourne, April 5. The Federal note issue totals £4,* 361,000. against which there is a gold hacking of £15,158.000.