AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16522, 14 May 1919, Page 8

AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

(from oto own correspondent.)

SYDNEY, May 5

JAPANESE IN THE PACIFIC.

The statement of the Acting-Prime Minister of New Zealand, that tho presence of tho Japanese in the Pacific is causing him some misgiving, exactly expresses the feeling in interested circles liere. The Pacific „ Islands trade is of the greatest importance to Sydney, and the operations of any powerful competitor among the Islands wculd be felt here at once.

Men who have como down from the Islands recently declare that, have removed Germany from a position dangerously close to our shores, we have admitted another Power equally as active. Before 1914, Japan took an important part in the Northern | Pacific trade, but she operated from her home ports, and had no advantage over her competitors. Since she occupied the Marshall and Caroline groups, I right under, the equator, however, she has been very active, and there is not much doubt but that she intends to make these valuable islands the base for widespread and intense activity throughout the central Pacific. She is hurriedly arranging steamer services knowing that, "with the British steamers reduced in numbers by the war, and subject to the still tremendous demands of demobilisation, she has. an excellent opportunity of establishing herself firmly before she meets serious competition. The position is causing much annoyance in Australia. It is pointed out •that, while Japan did practically nothing in the war, compared with the heavy sacrifices or the principal Allies, she is yet reaping all the advantages of being a member of the alliance, and is unfairly profiting by those advantages/ At tho moment, it looks as if Japan w ill .take away some proportion of Australia's trade—and if' she does, the reaction in Australia, where the feeling towards Japan can never be described as cordial, is likely to have far-reaching and important consequences. NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISES. The end of the war in Sydney has been signalised by some new newspaper enterprises, and, as soon as news paper becomes a little cheaper, some efforts in the way of launching dailios may be expected. The most . recent production is "Smith's Weekly." The founder is one Jovnton Smith, a gentleman, who is believed to have ambitions in the direction of public lifo, but whose only notable strength lies in the possession of considerable wealth. He recently served a term as Lord Mayor of Sydr ney, ar.d was then beaten at the polls. He is shrewd, however and in founding his paper he placed the enterprise in tho hands of two of the ablest journalists in the city. So far, the paper has been smart, readable, and generally attractive, and is certainly receiving excellent support. The paper, seems to have no particular mission. It mildly boosts Joynton Smith, and whenever it sees a head it cracks it. It appears on Fridays, and is a sort of compromise between the "Bulletin" and the Sunday papers. Another infant is the "Sunday News." It is tho Sunday edition of the "Evening News," just as the tho well-known "Sunday Sin" is the week-end edition of the "Sun." It soils at one ponny— but so, now, does tho '"'Sunday Sun," tho price of the latter being hurriedly reduced from twopence when the "Sunday News" was first whispered about. The "Sunday News" is a fairlv attractive production, but the general opinion is that it will have to be far brighter and more enterprising, and got a better ca'>lo service, before it breaks sucrnecfnlly into tho crowded Sunday field. . i

Tho "Sunday Mirror" is an illustrated weekly, which "was established over three years ago- It did not sueeo?d. and was absorbed by tho "Sun- , day Times," and issued as a foar-page, i illustrated, penny paper, on Sundays. The "Spndav Times" is a much bigjrer affair, And sells at twopence. Tntorestine liticration is pending between tho "Sunday Times" and the "Sun" Pronrietnry. The "Sunday Times" published a series of articles, sunposed to be specially written for it by tho greatest men" among the Allies, whose sisrnatures were reproduced. The "Snn" sent tho articles to London, ■"■here they have been derfinitelv repudiated bv some of the men concerned. The "Sun'.' then made certain reflections rnon the "Snnday Time"*." and the "Times" (Mr Hagli D. Mcintosh,

totter known as the proprietor of the Tivoli Theatres, and the promoter of Boxing contests;, issued a writ for £10,000. \ . The now Labour daily the publication of which was stoppea by the. outbreak of war, and of which the building and machinery aro all ready is still awaited. A daily is believed to bo certain to come out of this office soon, but the trouble is that no one knows whether tho Red or Moderate Labourites will control it. MODERN DRUG PREMISES. ■ It is just 6ixteen years since the Sheldon remedies wore first marketed in Australia. When introduced, they inaugurated a new era in proprietary medicines. To-day they are known throughout the Commonwealth. 1o keep pace with the development of tho business, increased facilities became absolutely" necessary. In March, 1918, tho company purchased from Messrs Stodman's, Ltd., tho building block A t oh. 131-135 Clarence street, and decided to erect an eight-storey; building. When the premises had been in progress for si couple of months, it was obvious that even this additional accommodation would not suffice, therefore a further allotmont on KeVit street; No«. 260-262, was purchased, directly bohind the first buildings, and another block was decided to'be erected on the spot. April of this year saw the completion of these buildingSj and the Sheldon Co. .removed from its O'Connell street premises to the new block oh 131-135 Clarence'street and 260-262 Kettt street. Next_ month tho company will complete the interior decorations of its now buildings, tho new electrical contrivances and fixtures, and its new model factory on .the latest .pure food lines.

A naval petty officer's hairbreadth, escapes from death during tho war are surely without parallel. Ho "was taken ill with typhoid at Malta, so ill, in fact, that he was pronounced to' be dead, and placed in the mortuary awaiting burial. His father received news of his death. But by a bit of luck one of the sisters of the hospital thought she noticed an. eyelid of the "corpse" flicker, and lie ■was taken back to the hospital, where, after 15 days, he reoovered. On his way homo to England his 6hip was torpedoed in the Channel. Rescued from the ■water, he served on ship, which was torpedoed in the North Sea. Finally, his ship -was mined in the North Sea, and after nearly an hour in the •water he was rescued again. He is now invalided from the service, but is extraordinarily fit and well.