AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1919, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE WHEAT QUESTION. By Telegraph—Press Asan.—Copyright. Beceived Aug. 22, 7.30 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 22. In both' the New South Wales and Inderal Parliaments much eriticism is proceeding in connection with the wheat m'estion. In the New South Wales Assembly the Minister for Agriculture pi't up a strong defence over matters arising out of the recent commission of inquiry into the Georgeson contract, and the subsequent comments thereon in the Federal House. Adverse comments on the operations of the wheat pool, and its alleged wasteful methods, 't-d to the production of muoh official matter to prove that the pool acted in Mie interests of farmers and made the best of a position that had been rendered very difficult by war conditions, also to show that Mr. Pratten's estimated loss of thirty million bushels.was largely over-estimated. Mr. Pratten's statement resulted in a heavy slump in wheat scrip, estimated at 1J millions iterling. PICTURE OP WARSHIP NEW ZEALAND. Received Aug. 22, 7.30 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 22. The National Art Gallery has purchased . Mr. Will Ashton's painting of the warship New Zealand for forty-sis guineas.

PROPOSED SYSTEM OF DEFENCE,

Melbourne, August 23The report of the advisory committee of experts on the defence system advocates three months' compulsory military training per annum for the citizen forces and the immediate establishment of an Australian force.

The report also urges the development <if : the activities of the arsenal department to enable Australia to undertake the manufacture of all essential munitions of war.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.