AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1921, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

COCKATOO ISLAND SCANDAL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Melbourne, April 7. In the House of Representatives Mr. Mahoney, speaking on the motion for adjournment, stated that the Adelaide should have been launched at Cockatoo Island within eight months of the keel being laid. Thousands of pounds worth of material had gone astray and private shipping companies had work done which had been charged against the Adelaide. Sir Joseph Cook replied that the charges would be sifted to the bottom He admitted that the cost of reconditioning a transport had been wrongly charged against the Adelaide, which had been built as cheaply at Cockatoo Island as it could have been in England. He regretted the wholesale dismissals, which were not warranted. The motion’lapsed. It was stated in reply to a question that the co.4t of the Adelaide would be £1,050,000. A further £lOO,OOO would be required for her completion. Both Houses adjourned until Thursday.

WHEAT SALES TO GERMANY. / Melbourne, April 7. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Tudor asked Mr. Hughes if it was a fact that over 1,000,000 bushels of wheat were sold to at 7s 6d to 7s 9d a bushel f.o.b. Mr. Hughes replied that he was unable to supply any information, but ha knew that no wheat was sold to Germany f.0.b., it was sold c.i.x. The average price of wheat sold for overseas was above that which the people of Australia had to pay. Adelaide, April 7. A trade circular has been issued stating that an additional 60,000 tons of wheat has been sold to Germany at 77s a quarter c.i.f. It is stated that this works out at fully Is a bushel less than Australian consumers are paying. ANTI/JMMIGRATION ACTION. Sydney, April 7. The Labor Conference rejected sev l eral resolutions proposing the re-admis-sion of members expelled over the conscription issue. Mr. Garden, secretary of the Labor Council, stated that the president, J. Howie, and the secretary of the Coopers’ Union, T. Earsman, were visiting England for an anti-immigration cam-paign.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SYDNEY 7 HARBOR BRIDGE. Sydney, April 7. The Government has instructed the railway construction engineer to prepare plans and specifications to enable tenders for the Sydney Harbor bridge to be invited throughout the world next October. Melbourne, April 7. Mr Hughes announced, in view of the slump in metal prices, the Government, had decided to permit the exportation of ores.