AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 73, 25 March 1916, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

'. CRIMINAL LIBEL. i MELBOURNE, March 24, Ex-Constable Crowe was sentenced to three years v imprisonment for crim- , inally libelling Manamny, superintendent of police. The libel was contained in a pamphlet alleging that Manamny investigated the murder of the dia- | mend merchant Bauer and that Mrs. t i Manamny was wearing Bauer's missj ing diamonds. It was also alleged that j Manamny obtained the proceeds of the crimes. I ENEMY GOODS PROHIBITED. MELBOURNE, March 24. The Australian Natives' Association has passed a resolution that an .endeavour be made to ensure for the future the absolute prohibition of German and Austrian goods. MUNITIONS MANUFACTURE. ORGANISATION OF SKILLED . LABOUR. SYDNEY, March 24.' Mr. Holman is negotiating with representatives of unions engaged in t!ie iron, and steel trades with a view to organising skilled labour for the pro- • duction of munitions. FOREIGN LANGUAGES BARRED. NEW TELEPHONE REGULATIONS; . '. SYDNEY, March 24. A new regulation makes : anyone using a foreign language over the telephone liable to penalties, besides being cut off. FLOUR AND BREAD. MELBOURNE, March 24. The State Government lias reduced' the price of flour to £ll 7/6, and bread to 3-}d per 21b loaf. TREASURY BONDS. MELBOURNE, March 24. The Government has completed arrangements for the conversion of £822,000 worth of 3-5 .per cent. Treasury bonds, maturing on April Ist at the average rate . of .interest, of. £4 ~ 11/3 ... •" «■ •■■■ - -i« ■-- MANSLAUGHTER. Ht SYDNEY, March 24. ' Constable Fisher was found guilty of-tie manslaughter of Jessie* Neaion, and sentenced to seven years' penal senvitude. (It was cabled from Sydney on January 10th that a, tragedy had oc r curred in Castlereagh Street, when Probationary.- Constable John Fisher shot his u sister-in-law, Jessie Nekton; dead, and badly wounded his wife. A statement was made by Fisher after his anrest that he wished his wife to leave Nealon, but she refused to do so. He lost his temper after some bickering,, drew a revolver; and did the * shooting. His wife was wounded in the breast and shoulder. COMMONWEALTH BANK. BRANCHES MAY BE OPENED IN ; ''. . NEW ZEALAND. It is understood that as a result of the visit of the Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Mr. Denison Miller) to New Zealand, it is probable that branches of. the Commonwealth Bank will be opened in the principal cities of the Dominion, starting with Wellington and Auckland.

The business of the Commonwealth Bank has been carried on in Australia without any interference with existing banking institutions, as the policy of the bank is really to be of assistance to and to help them, if necessary, intead of doing anything to unduly interfere with trading corporations already established in, . the Commonwealth. It is claimed for the bank that it is already filling that position, and that events have proved that there is room for it—a bank upon which the public could rest, with confidence,and know that in times, of stress or. in war it could be relied upon. Further, it is claimed for the Commonwealth Bank that its influence has had '. a most steadying effect upon the financial position in Australia, where matters are now running quite smoothly; and it is the people's bank— and as Such they rely upon it.