AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3386, 15 January 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

COMMONWEALTH INSURANCE. WAR SAVINGS" INCREASE. ' Received 8.45 am. - SYDNEY, this day. The total number of life insurance policies in force in. Australia. is 1,305,251, assuring £152,710,312, carrying annual premiums to the value of £5,786,000. The chief feature is the solid increase in the amount insured during the war years. STATE ELECTIONS. I>}\n'rlE:s GETTING READY. Received 8.45 am. SYDNEY, this day. There are evident pre.para.tions for -the coming ‘State elections. Though the date is not. yet fixed, the elections will be held certainly before the end of March. Issues are somewhat mixed, besides there is alleged disruption amongst the Nationalists, and there is c011sid(‘1'11l)]e dissension in the ranks of labour, whose Central Exedu-five appears to be not closely in touch with the rank and file. The Farnlers’ Party intends making a Strong bid; Independents also-are not wanting. THE DARWIN COMMISSION. STAR.TIgING EVIDENCE GIVEN. DEATH-DEALING LIQUOR. IN STATE GROG-SHOPS. Received 8.45 am. . ' DARWIN, this (lily. The Coininisvsioii took further evidenee indicating that sly grog selling was ranlpant, and muehibad liquor" was consumed. ' In regard to one consignment of bulk whisky, the ‘Supervisor of Hotels was asked it‘ two. or three men did not die in one day at the time of its arrival, and if bad \\'llisky had something to do with the deaths.

' He said it was alleged, and ivitness also stated that he ordered other hot.tled. whisky, but Mr Gilruth notified him that, he-must not do SO without consulting _him till the bulk consignMnent was finished. %VA.RIOUS INTERESTING ITEMS. \ . —-- 3 Received 10.35 a.m. SYDNEY, this day. . The gold yield of‘ 1919 was -the lowest on record, being valued at £279,666, a decrease of 5390,0737, compared with the previous year. Brewery employees have declared the strike off and are returning -to work on the employers’ terms. ' Building -trade employees decided that from Eebruary Ist they will work only forty hours per Week. A meeting of the Bakers’ Union resolved that: in future they would not work on Saturday. _ Arrived: Tarawera, froin Wellington. The Port. Darwin Commission has -concluded its sittings and has left the town. 7 . MELBOURNE, this day. The War Servir-.«~.e Home Commission decided that du"iug the next ten years to erect, twenty thousand homes in the Commonwealth. A proclamation prohibits all trade relations with German merchants. The price of tea is increased by 3d EL pound. The Governinent is forming an Air Board. comprising representatives of the .=\.rmy and l\}avy. to administer the air service. MYSTERIOUS FIRES. Ht-«ti-i\'1"(l 10.35 21.111. ADELAIDE, this day. A fire in wheat. _ve.rds at Wallaroo destroyerl the Penross bag factory and the British G-overnment.’s sterilisinge and reconditioning plants. Wheat stacks were saved, but it is estimated the damage will amount to scores of‘ thousands of pounds. About. three: hundred 0Ill]JlO)’t‘(‘5 were rendered idle.i The 01'i_Q;in of the fire, which is thel latest of a number of niys-terious out—' breaks, is unknown. The damage lS§ covered by insurance. -

AUSTRALIAN WHEAT MUDDIIE. .\NO'I‘HTCR LOSS OF £BOOO. Received 10.35 a.m. SYDNEY, this day. The report: of the Wheat Enquiry Commission, dealing with the sale of 191.5-16 g;ual-antegd wheat, stated that through the Hon. Graham ’S failure, when the pool was formed to protect his own. contract with one firm, New South Wales xms mulcted in a direct loss of £BOOO. It appeared that Graham, prior to the formation of the pool, agreed with a firm to sell wheat Which:-i‘f» procekfied to do when the pool was formed. This wheat \V‘J_< not exempted from it, and th(-refore Gruhame was unable to fulfil the agreement. The £BOOO I'efen‘ed to remesenf. ed .a portion of the firnfs commission.