COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3362, 31 October 1911, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

IRISH BLIGHT

(United Press Association —Copyright.) SYDNEY, Oct, 30.

Out of a consignment of 120 bags or Clarence River potatoes sent to Brisbane, 500 wore condemned as affected with Irish blight. Outbreaks are reixn'ted in other districts. WORK AND WORKERS. The Labor Council further discussed the Shortage of Labor Commission's report. The bulk of the speakers insisted that there was no shortage. It was said that in some instances workers were not obtainable because the ruling rate was not paid. AX ELECTION ERROR. MELBOURNE, Oct. 30. Oil ing to an error in issuing the dissolution writ, the State elections must be held on November 16, a- week earlier than intended. BALLARAT BAND CONTEST. At the Ballarat band contests the St. Augustine Orphanage Boys Band won the A grade competition and the Australasian championship. A remarkable feature is that the average age of the winners is 14. The youngest is 11 and th coldest 21. The Rozelle Band (Sydnev) was second. HENLEY REGATTA. It is estimated that over 100.000 people attended Henley regatta <>u the river Yarra. REDUCED SALARIES. PERTH, Oct. 30. It is stated that one of the first acts of the new Ministry will be to reduce their salaries, the Premier to £I2OO, an his colleagues to £IOOO each. ELECTROLYTIC STRIKE. SYDNEY, October 30. Two hundred and fifty men struck a the electrolytic works. LITHGOW STRIKE. (Received Oct. 30, 11.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct, 30. Through the medium of the Trades Council deputation, Mr. Hoskins offered to the Lithgow iron-strikers a slight advance on the previous offers. A mass meeting of men rejected the offer. WHEAT CROP FAILURE. (Received October 30. 9.20 p.m..) SYDNEY, Oct, 30. It is reported that the wheat crop is practically a failure. The estimated area for grain is forty-seven thousand five hundred and thirty-eight . acres, yielding 381,224 bushels. The, area of hay is 6,543 acres, yielding 4436 tons. EMPLOYERS’ DEFENCE ASSOCIATION. PERTH, Oct. 30.

A scheme is afoot to form an Employers’ Defence Association, with a capital of £IOO,OOO. The secretary of the Labor Federation declares that the object is to fight organised labor, which could not combat employers by forming a united fund of their own.