COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 42, 24 May 1916, Page 2

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

I | LIQUOR REFERENDUM FIGHT. I Onimcd Paiiss Association. (Received 9.20 a.in.) , Sydney, May 24. The liquor referendum campaign is in full swing, and both sides are organising for a great fight. ! PRICE OF FOODSTUFFS. ' (Received 9.20 a.m.) i Sydney, May 24. Official statistics concerning the price of foodstuffs in the Commonwealth during April show that they decreased three per cent, compared to March. | PACIFIC COAST SHIPPING RATES. (Received 9.20 a.m.) Sydney, May 24. ’Frisco files state that there -are indications on the Pacific coast of - the ! present high shipping rates being hkeIly to decline. Color is lent ;o the report by the announcement that a minij her of vessels, including several now ! ones, are being offered for sale, i The Chronicle adds: “Practically every vessel plying out of ’Knsco under charter could be bought at reasonable rates.”

WALSH ISLAND STRIKE SETTLED. (Received 10.10 a.m.) Sydney, May 24. The strike of iron workers at "Walsh Island has been settled. SI RRIDER HAGGARD’S SCHEME. ' ‘Adelaide. May 23. The Premiers’ Conference appointed a committee to Consider Sir Ruler Hag-,,-ard’s proposals. The latter expressed the greatest satisfaction at the reception of his scheme. He sails iy Manuka on Thursday.

thieving on the wharves. (Received 10.10 a.in.) London, May 24. In sentencing n .prisoner to seven years’ penal servitude for cargo-pilfer-ing Judge Murray said the amount of "thieving, on the wharves, amounted to a 'public .scandal; qnd caused the port to stink in the, nostril? of every decent citizen. is . , TRADE WITH JAPAN. 1 (Received 10.1.0 a.m.) ;• \ • ( Sydney, May 24. At a luncheon at the Millions Club. Mr Sutton, commercial commissioner in the East, emphasised the growing importance of Japan f and urged the, establishment of a* chair of commerce to dominate the Commonwealth’s commercial policy in the East as long as* the spirit of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was kept up. There was no doubt .Japan came to the rescue when Russia was absolutely defeated. Russia’s, Artillery was ed, and Japan, in response to appeals 'from'Russia ami EngHflul, supplied it. Referring, to trade, he warned Australia against’, the possibility ,of losing Japanese trade as the' result of the publication Of hostile criticisms and pip-pricks time and ,iime again,,.

GERMAN INFLUENCE IN UNION, * (Received 10.10 a.m.) , '■ -• Sydney, May 24. Referring to the prevalence of strikes, the Hon. Mr Black found that they were engineered by the secretary of one union who was a (Jenuan. He advised the Federal authorities to take certain action, which resulted in the end of the disputes. MENINGITIS EPIDEMIC. (Received 10.10 a.in.) Melbourne, "May 24. The chief health officer has announced that if the meningitis outbreak does not abate, it will lie necessary to consider the question of limiting the audience or closing all the places of amusement.