AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 9, 11 July 1910, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

PARLIAMENTARY PLEASANTRIES. The Chairman of Committees of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (Mr. J. J. Cohen) had his first collision with members of the Opposition last week, and took an early opportunity of asserting the dignity of his position. During the debate on the proposal to amend the Industrial Disputes Acti, Mr. Carmichael, in order to discuss a phase of the Act which he could not do otherwise under the rules of the House, sought to amend the order of leave. Upon a point raised by the Premier, Mr. Cohen Tuled the amendment out of order. Mr. Caxmicha^l immediately moved to dissent from the ruling. Mr. Nieisen : The rottenest ruling ever given. The Chairman : Order ! The hon. member must withdraw that expression. Mr. Nielsen : I'll withdraw it because I have to, but so it is. The Chairman : I' ask the hon. member to withdraw it, and apologise. Mr. Nielsen : I won't Bpologise. I'm hanged if I will. The Chairman : Sergeant, remove the hon. member. Mr. Nielsen ; I'll apologise -when I'm wrong, but in a case like this I won't. The Chairman : Sergeant Mr. Nielsen (moving toward." the door) : Oh, I'll go out. The Chairman : While I'm here I will see that the Chair, at any rate, is respected. Mr. Carmichael : We can't respect your rulings, anyhow. The Chairman took no notice of the remark, and Mr. Nielsen having Tetired under the escort of the Sergeant-at-Arms, the interrupted businass was proceeded with. UNSATISFACTORY BIRTH-RATE. The birbh-rate of Sydney for June was not satisfactory, in the opinion of the Government Statistician. It was the lowest for twelve months, and the lowest for any June month, except in 1907, since 1902. The total number of babies born was 1237, 679 being males- and 578 females. The June average for the previous five years was 1289. Illegitimate births were also below the average. There were 98. Of the total births, 144, or 1,46 per cent., took place in hospitals and other public institutions. Of the total deaths last month', 477, 234 were of males and 243 of females. The mortalityrate was very satisfactory, being below the rate for the previous month, and considerably bejow the average foi the previous five years. Decreases were shown in deaths at alj'age-gi-oups, except 65 and over, which was normal. The improvement was most marked among pulmonary diseases, which was 33.3 per cent., and in phthisis, which was 35.1 per cent, below fcjie average, due possibly to the unusual mildness of the month. The infantile mortality 75 per 1000 births, which wag equal to the average for the month of June for the previous five years. Among the very old persons who died, one was aged 91 years. Of the total deaths, 164 or 34.38 per cent., occurred in hospitals and other public institutions. "TOUTING" FOR' FUNERALS. An extraordinary state of affairs in undertaking trade was revealed to the Victorian Treasurer by a deputation from the Viptorian Master Undertakers' Association, The statements made arise out of a combination of Government canr tracts for pauper funerals, and for the removal of corpses to the Morgue, in cases where the deaths require further investigation by the police or coroner. For the removal of corpses no payment is made by the State. " ' Mr. D. Maekinnon, M.L.A., who introduced the deputation, siaid that highJy objectionable practices had arjsen out of the system under which the removal of bodjes was performed by funeral contractors for nothing. Contractors, through getting the first information of the death, pbtamed facilities for pushing their business which amounted to the promotion of a very illegitimate form of competition. Mr. Whear, president cf the association, said there was no denying that a degrading form of "touting" for funerals W9S prevalent. The "touting" evil extended to contractors for hospitals and other institutions. He knew of one case in which an ambujance-yan driver was offered by a contractor 20 per cent, if any funeral business could be secured for him. The Treasurer (in tones of aetonishfneflfc): Is that story confirmed? Mr. Whear: Yes. Other speakers urged that in several instances extortionate charges were made by contractors, when once they got a victim. The Treasurer said he understood that the deputation's case was that the practice of calling for tenders for burials and removals together gave the successful tenderer an unfair advantage, and that removals being given to an undertaker led to objectionable practices. (Hear, hear.) Neither he nor the Government desired the relatives of the dead to be harassed by ghouls of the kind depcribed by the deputation. (Hear, hear.) He would look into the whole matter, and if a change were found to be desirable, it would be made, "DRUNK OR SOBER" MEETING. Following a Salvation Army demonstration held in the Town Hall, Sydney, Commissioner Hay conducted a unique meeting in the Goulburn-street hall. It took place at midnight, and was styled a "drunk or sober meeting." Preceding tjie meeting, twp large companies of Salvationists, headed by brass bands, marched through the back streets of the city, making a halt at each hptel on the route, whilst members of the Army entered and announced to the habitues of the bar a welcome. 4 great crpwd of men and women, many more or less under the influence of drink, made their way into the halj, one of two being almost carded in. Special music, reminding of home and childhood was rendered, both vocal and instrumental. Hot coffee and biscuits were served, and Commissioner and Mrs. Hay and Colonel Hoskin addressed the mixed audience in homely and earnest terms. The crowd gave a very good hearing to each speaker. At the close of the meeting over 20 knelt at the penjtent form.' Proceedings were not concluded until nearly 1 o'clock next morning. "CAN'T DODGE THE OWNERS." Captain. Free, of the Zealandia, HuddartrParker's new steamer, grew sorrowful at a luncheon on his vessel as he smilingly Teferaed? to some of the drawbacks attached to the installation of wireless. "Time was," he said, "when the skipper of a boat once out of port was monarch pf ajl he surveyed. But all that has changed now. Wireless,' 1 h-? went on to say, "wfts a wonderful thing, and they h^d performed some wonderful things with it on the trip out from Olydebank. But there was a, 'fly in the ointment.' Th'B Zealandia was hundreds of miles off ohe coast of Victoria when an ethergrajn flashed aboard and he was asked how many passengers he had aboard, and when would, he arrive, and lastly, was ordered to prepare lynch for 150 guest* 'next Monday/ Tb^i skißß<S?§ <*>»J4 dodge the owne.ro now. That was what

he regretted. 'I long for my 'Iteardom again,' the captain proceeded, amidst great amusement. 'We replied to all these shore messages, and w«re up to time. My bosun brought his wife and family out with him. No more Dundee. We ate Australian beef and New ZeaJand mutton, and carried' our sentiment down to Bacchus Marsh milk — not merely because the food was Australian, but also because it was the best in the market." "FOR DISSECTING PURPOSES." With a suggestive bandage roundi his head and a dazed look in his eye, a middle-aged man, Frederick James, ans■wered a charge at the City Court, Melbourne,, of having attempted/ to commit suicide. Evidence was given that left no room for doubt that accused had unsuccessfully tried -to take his life by means of a revolver. This evidence was confirmed by a letter written by accused and addressed to the coroner as follows : — "Dear Sir, — Will you be good enough to hand my body over to St. Vincent's Hospital for dissecting purposes? There is no person, in Australia having any claim to me as next-of-kin, so kindly see that' it is handr ed over, — Frederick James." Accused, who told the Bench that he had been laid up since Christmas, and remembered nothing about attempting to commit suicide, was committed for trial.