COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 July 1926, Page 7

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

WORLD'S TIMBER SUPPLY. A TREELESS FUTURE. AN EXPERT'S OPINION. (Cy Cable—Press Association.—C......at.) (Received IL3O a.m.) PERTH, this day. Mr. W. Fraser, expert in afforestation, who is returning to Xew Zealand by the Narkunda, says the annual consumption of timber and its products per head of population is heaviest in America. Australia takes second place. Mr. Fraser said there was no possibility of the world shortage in timber being unless timber-growing areas in various countries were systematically re-planted. He contends "that neither the Australian nor the Xew Zealand Governments are doing stifficient in regard to tree growing, Xorway and Sweden are the only countries where the production is slightly ahead of consumption, but new growth of American forests represent only about twenty-four per rent of timber consumed.— (A. and X.Z.) STATE GOVERNORS. LEADERS FOR AUSTRALIA. A WHITE PAPER. LONDON, July 6. A White Paper has been issued containing copies of the correspondence which lias passed betwen the Australian ■States and the British Government on the subject of State Governors. The Labour Governments of the Commonwealth petitioned asking that Governors should be selected who had been born in Australia. There were counter-petitions from Victoria and from other opponents of the suggestion. Commenting on the documents the "Times" expresses the opinion that both parties stated their case lucidly and with commendable restraint. Impartial readers will probably find a good deal to be said for both sides. The reply of the .Secretary of State for the Dominions to the Australian Premiers took the only possible line, says tlie paper. There was not a word in his dispatch to conflict with Lord Milner's statement that the whole matter was one for Australians to decide. The writer proceeds:— "The assurance that the memorial of the Labour Premiers was not dictated by a desire to loosen the ties between the States and the Mother Country is welcome, but the practice of appointing a Chief Justice may lead to awkward situations. A Lieutenant-Governor might have to determine the fate of the very Government which elevated him to the bench. "The case for the defence of the present system is outlined in an exceedingly able memorandum by the AttorneyGeneral and the Premier of Victoria. There is a frank admission of the difficulty in securing suitable candidates. "But the strongest argumer 1 against a change lies not in the Victorian memorandum, but in the strong opposition which is evident all over the Commonwealth. This cannot be measured in terms of State against State, for where Labour rules there is a strong minority against the Government. Thus the smallest turn of the political wheel would place the minority in power in Xew South Wales. To make a drastic alteration in the Constitution at the request of the party which happens to be in office to-day might be running directly contrary to the wishes of the majority of the electors to-morrow. "'The petitions from the chambers of commerce, graziers' associations and other public bodies show it would be dangerous to take a drastic step before the Australian people have finally made up their minds."—("Times.") GOVERNMENT COMPETITION. INSURANCE IN N.S.W. (ifecelved 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Replying to complaints of country members of the Labour caucus that insurance rates under the Compensation Act are unduly high. Mr. J. T. L'ang. Premier, said the Government would not stand for making prolits out of the pockets of the people. At the end of each year out of the surplus over working expenses fropi the State Insurance Office the Government would pay rebate and gradually reduce the premium rates until the insurers had the benefit of all the profits realised. (A. and X.Z.) VICTORIAN POLITIC" (Received 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. In the Victorian Parliament a motion of want of confidence in the Government, based on general charges of maladministration, was moved by Mr. K. J. Ilosran. Leader of the Opposition.— (A. "and X.Z.) WORKERS' QUARRELS. SYDNEY, July 5. The general president of tlie Austra"Workers , Union, Mr. Barnes fa member of the Senate) recently decided to recommend the members to support the referenda proposals of the Prime Min-i-tor. Mr. S. M. liruee, in defiance Of the .lerMull of Hip union to oppose them. He hn~ now been called upon by the executive of the union to explain his attitude and to sign a manifesto advising Labour to oppose mc proposals. If Mr. Barnes refuses to do this he will be relieved of his office and will probably be expelled from the union.— (A. and X.Z.)