AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1918, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CONTROL OF COAL MINES. Australian Cable Association. Sydney, March 14.

A report tabled in tho Assembly says tliat tho State Government control of coalmine's during the strike period entailed a loss of £15,000. -

COM.MAiYDI'IKRJNG BUTTER STOCKS.

Melbourne, Match 14. A regulation empowers the Commonwealth to requisition stocks of butter pending the formation of a butter pool. A LESSON TO LABOR. Sydney, March 14.

Mr. Fuller claims that during the recent strike the Government was able to administer a lesson which lie believed would be productive of much good and be appreciated. The workers now hud n saner unionism and there were better relations between employers and employees and better industrial conditions.

REDUCTION IN INSANITY.' Sydney, March 14. The annual report of the»lnspectorGeneral of Insane says that the number of cases is lfelow the .average for the last twenty years and the lowest since 101-2, notwithstanding the stress of war conditions under iv'hiich an increase might have been anticipated. MYSTERIOUS DISEA^ Sydney, Scientific investigations of the mysterious X disease, which is still claiming victims, shows that tho germs are breathed in and carried i n the blood to various organs, especially tho brain, and burst through the little blood vessels causing local inflammation, but the patient is killed so rapidly through interference with tho vital centres of the brain that the germ has not time ,to fully develop. In other areas the disease i 3 very fatal and ninety, per cent of the victims die. The disease is confined to two or three months of the year, particularly January and February, It seldom attacks females and never adult females.

N.S.W. POLITICS. Sydney, March 15. The Legislative Council passed the Arbitration Amendment Bill. .

THE VICTORIAN MINISTRY. ' Melbourne, March .15. : The Assembly adjourned till Tuesday next to enable the Governor to consult leading members-

OPIUM SMUGGLING- CASE. Sydney, March lit. I'wo arrests have been made in connection with the opium smuggling.

[COASTAL SHIPPING REQUISITIONED

'Melbourne; 'March 15. ■Mr. Hughes ha ß announced that the Government U requisitioning coastal shipping;, which will be run as one concern under the direction of the Controller of Shipping. The regulation empowers the Federal Government to requisition any prescribed goods.