AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2555, 1 September 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE REFERENDUM BILL FEDERAL PREMIER DECLINES TO WITHDRAW IT. ( By T«l«rapli—Press Association—Copyright ■ Melbourne, August 31. ; In the Federal House, in reply Cook's question whether in view of tho ' serious nature of the European outlook 1 and the mounting casualties and. the : disability of tho people to concentrate their attention oil the war he would not ' postpone the Referendum Bill,; Mr. Fisher stated that the Government believed the referendum would not weaken but strengthen Australia, therefore, he .would iiot postpone it. ' SNUB TO PEACE ADVOCATES. STRAIGHT TALE TO DEPUTATION. (Rec. August 31, 8 p.m.) ' Adelaide,' August 31. 'A deputation of peace advocates petitioned the Chief Secretary not to.iallow' mob law, such as the liarrjing of,.peace advocates in the Botanical Park. Tlie Chief (Secretary ivas antagonistic to the deputation, and advised them to help their country in the present crisis, and not set up indiscreet citizens to preach absurd principles. , The.duty of the peace societies was to maintain peace at home, and not cause breaches. TO FICHT THE GAS FIENDS. \ ANTI-GAS APPARATUS INVENTED IN MELBOURNE. . Melbourne, August 31. Senator Pearce, Federal Defence Minister, in a statement regarding the work of tho Federal Munitions Committee, says:—"An. efficient anti-gas apparatus has been invented by scientists at the Melbourne University, whoro ten thousand are. being manufactured. Specifications and samples have been sent to England." .. A DISLOYAL SPEECH. > f;'. : Sydney, August 31. James Lalor was fined. £100. . [James Lalor, a mine manager,; .a grandson of Peter Lalor, of Eureka Stockado fame, was. charged' with, making a statement likely to. prejudice recruiting.! The information alleged that accused used in an hotel the words: "This war is a capitalist war. The King' should bo shot, and the Queen : have her. throat cut."] CENSUS OF UNMARRIED MALES. 1.5,000 FAIL TO SEND IN RETURNS." (Rec. August 31,; 9.35 p.m.) , .Sydney, August 31. 'An official census shows that the unmarried males from- tho ages of 17 to 60 in the metropolitan area total 76,494. After making allowances for sick', and supporters 1 of dependents, p9,5V7 aro ' 'available.-''The Goyernment Statistician estimate's that'another 15,000 failed to return themselves.RECRUITING ,IN .QUEENSLAND. 1 FILLIP TO THE CAMPAIGN, y. (Rec. August 31, 10.25-p'.m.) >: Brisbane,' August 31. The recruiting campaign has had a decided fillip as the result of Parliament' specially adjourning for a week, and the Government -providing special .trains to convey t parties l of politicians to tho country. and.! outback districts. Shearers and other rural workers have responded freely. , ■ "' ITEMS IN BRIEF. ' ARGENTINE PRODUCE IN PERTH; N MARKETS. Perth, August 31. At auction, maize, bran, and pollard, imported by the .Government" from the Argentine, was offered for •; Six. hundred tons'of bran realised 3s. 2d:, six of pollard £3 12s. Gd., and two hundred tons of maizo £4 "ss. per ton. ' Experts estimated the' cost at £10 per ton. One-third of the whole shipment was sold. . KHAKI DYE FOR COLONIAL 1 . ; :- WOOLS. , v ■ Melbourne, August 31; ■ : A Queensland committee is investigating the matter-of the production of: a khaki dye for local wools. ' " Committees are also'investigating -the possibility of the manufacture of picric 1 acid and trinitrotoluene. . ; sentenced"to death. : Sydney,. August 30. Joseph Hamilton has been sentenced ' to (death for murdering Alice White.' . 1 . '[The: murder took place at Surrey ' Hills. The woman, a boardinghouse- • keeper, was shot: through the heart by, ' Hamilton, a member of the Expedition- ; ajy Force who had recently returned 1 from 'Egypt.' .Hamilton afterwards turned the weapon on himself, but the ' .wound did not prove fatal. Jealousy ,is belioved to have been the cause ,of tho tragedy.] v 'BRAN 'AND POLLARD PRICES. (Rec. August 31, 9 p.m.) Melbourne, August 31. The Millers' Association, has reduced tho prico of bran to £5; and of pollard te £6. ■ . ■ (Rec. September 1, 0.20 a.m.) Sydney,.August 31. iTlie New South Wales Millers' Association lias reduoed tho prico of bran i to £5 and pollard to £5 10s. TELEPHONE RATES. /.- (Rec.'August 31, 9 p.m.)' .' ■ - • Melbourne, August. 31. .. In the Federal House, Mr. Spence ' (Postmaster-General) submitted pro- ' posals for the changes in the telephone rates. A slight alteration Was made' 1 in the* flat rate, but the annual' rent will not be highor than £4. Calls have , been raised to one penny, and those for public telephones to twopence. _ It is anticipated that the '.changes will produce an additional £155,000 of revenue. THREATENED PORK FAMINE. (Rec. August 31, 9.55 p.m.) . i _ Sydney, August 31. A pork famine is threatened. Though, tliero were good offerings of pigs, the butchers, oil. tho basis~-of yesterday's proclaimed price?, offered figures much bolow the owners' ideas, and no business 'resulted. , FOOTBALLER RECRUITS. . , , (Rec. September 1, 0.20 a.m.) Sydney, August 31. 1 Altogether 1253 New. South Wales llilgby Union footballers liavo been ac--1 copted for.service at the front. — ■. n ■ ■