AUSTRALIA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 94, 16 September 1914, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

TUB PRICE OF COMMODITIES. PROTEST BY TIIE MERCHANTS. Received 15, $.53 p.m. Sydney, September 15. The Chamber of Commerce War Food Fund totals £33,C00, of which £W,24# has been expended in three shiploads of meat, flour, sugar, and other necessaries already despatched for distribution by the London Chamber, and the purchase of farther consignments of produce. Meixha»tg protest against the Necessary Commodities Commission's decision that seven days' notice of any intended Increase in prices must be given. They point out that most of the commodities involved are perishable, and it may be necessary to clear them in a day or two. Insistence on this decision will completely disorganise trade. Melbourne, September 13. A meeting of wheat merehaats and miilers decided to urge the Government to fix wheat prici-B immediately in order to relieve the tension; to prohibit exportation of wheat and flour; to take over all stock at the prices fixed by the Commission, and to cancel all existing contracts on the basis of the prices &xi 4.

CONFIDENCE. MOTORED. SffflAMEli SERVICES 3u39UMJS. Sydney, September 13. Tbe oaipture of fcr.moa and .New Guinea have v«.iß.-suie<l i-hipownern as to the safety of the Pacific Islands and «e*oier» aro resuming their runnißg. A Servian Red Cross Fund Sias bee.i started. The rain caused an easier tone in tho vfcnat market. Butter dropped four flillingi «nd cheese eased a half-penny per pound. The rain and the botiter waj news aro responsible fo. - a more cheerful business tone generally. The Lord Mayer's Fund in Melbourne is £104,000.

UEIJEF l-OR BEUMA.Y EEFUUBI®. A LEVY OX (STATB SERVANTS. Received 10. 1.30 a.in. Sydney, September 1"). Mr. Holman, I'rciniv.r of New South Wale.*, has aunuuiiced that the Oorvernnient iri willing to accede to tli© request •}t tin' Imperial authorities to fiud relief ior two thousand women refugees from Belgium and the north of France, mostly widow of the soldiers who have fallen in the war. The Government pno■poses that their employees slmll eoutriliuta ten per tent of their salaries where over £2OO i*-r annum to provide i niployiuent for men displaced fry tjre war. Received 16, 1.30 a.irf. Sydney, September 15. Hie Executive Council has fixed the . price of -wheat at 4b 2d, flour at £9 lQs, jiread per 2fl> loaf.