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Newspaper
Canberra Times
Location
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Date
Jan 31, 1940
Page
4
A court session on Tuesday aims to clarify the buying Prattice matter. The docket notes dispute over a loan and alleged misappropriation related to Abe Woolcoll and local accounts. Beatty and other witnesses are expected to testify regarding balance, ownership, and pertinent documents.
The High Commissioner for the Balted Kingdom travels from Canberra to Artney by car today and will return to Camere. Officials say the trip will cover administrative duties and diplomatic talks with local authorities.
An early wartime move by Prime Minister Menzies to form an Economic Cabinet faced little action in Canberra with no meetings or secretariat in place. Officials said the cabinet was a political expedient amid criticism from Canberra and Sydney over evacuation plans to Melbourne, casting doubt on sincerity and potential future impact on policy.
Melbourne court hears a wife’s support complaint against her soldier husband. The magistrate doubts service of summons to the husband at a military camp and contemplates substitution, noting service could not be completed through the military. The case centers on a wife seeking maintenance and alleged refusal of legal action.
Washington report notes a shift in US policy toward British wartime shipping, citing protests at Malta and tensions with Germany. It mentions earlier 1938 discussions of US dealings with Spain and Mexico and hints at controls on merchant merchandise including money orders and negotiable securities amid belligerent ships.
A government statement announced continued support for oil prospecting in the Gippsland and Kimberley regions. It confirms a £50,009 provision remains to back ongoing operations and that grant advances will be provided to the Francis/ Kimberley Company, and to Petroleum Company in Papua.
Reports describe fires across districts causing livestock losses and scorched grazing. Hundreds of men fought flames with the wind dropping to ease conditions and prevent further spread near Bookham and Doskhiom. Sheep and cattle were burned or endangered as homes and wells were affected. Local neighbours banded together to aid in containment.
Canberra Fire Brigade fought a blaze near Parliament House and the Molonglo River grounds of Parliament House. Firemen extinguished the flames, with extensive damage reported to shrubbery and grounds.
The heat wave death toll reaches 46 in Queensland and New South Wales. Farmers report heavy poultry losses and crops damaged by heat, with pineapple leases and estimated value noted. Education authorities consider adjusting school hours to avoid daytime heat. Children likely to stay home during peak hours.
Fragmentary OCR recounts a public service figure leaving Melbourne for Aud sey and a journey toward Washington. It references government roles, Treasury and Supply Department links, and a personal separation from friends and colleagues amid unclear details.
Fragmented strings describe tensions between Germany and the Soviet Union over Galicia in Holan and the impact on oil output. Notes say production may reach 500,000 tons annually but current drilling and equipment limit growth. Wells average 500 to 4,000 feet, many dry in 1930s era, delaying rapid expansion and raising costs amid uncertain markets.
A London meeting chaired by John Pavideon discussed wool price trends amid wartime taxation and import pressures. Officials warned exports might rise, with spending and inflation impacting daily produce costs and market confidence.
Figures released show Australian population gains with 12 527 from migration last year. Arrivals of permanent residents totaled 24 005, while departures reached 3 841. The document lists nationalities by numbers, led by Germany and Austria, Italy, and Britain among others, with counts for each.
Scientists aboard the Wnebreaker Badov were ice bound near Morcow during a polar expedition. A collision or accident left crew injured and stranded as rescue teams raced to the scene. Weather worsened the peril with heavy seas and shifting ice. Authorities reported one death and several missing crew members.
Disjointed report describes a political clash in Capetown. Debates center on an indemnity bill tied to emergency footstations and war powers. Contradictory statements accuse officials and individuals of disinformation while discussing export restrictions and national security measures.
A narrative summary outlines blockade actions affecting British and Japanese interests, detailing the 1940s naval and economic restrictions, wartime diplomacy, and the broader strategic push in the Near East. It notes Japan and Britain retaining certain fronts, French troops in Syria, and Turkish involvement shaping regional balance of power amid Allied naval bases and trade controls.
In Sydney a troubling case centers on Wilma and Wendy Wileums, twins whose mysterious illness led to hospitalization of their parents. Doctors suspect ptomaine poisoning as a possible cause after the girls fell ill with stomach pain and vomiting, with limited details available about progression or outcome.
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