AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 18258, 24 April 1923, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. INFANT MORTALITY. CHALLENGE PROM NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, April 24. (Received April 24, at 8.55 a.m.) Mr Lines Noad, president of the MoCiiers and Babies’ Welfare Society, referring to Dr Truby King’s cabled statement that New Zealand s infant mortality rate was 47 per thousand against Australia’s 69 per thousand in 1921, says that the New South Wales rate in 1922 stood at 54 per thousand, and he claims that at that rate New South Wales is reducing its ratio, and it will not be long before it can overtake and possibly pass New Zealand’); achievement of the lowest infantile mortality rate in the world. NORFOLK ISLAND. NO SHIPPING FACILITIES. 'SYDNEY, April 24. (Received April 24, at 8.55 a.m.) The Administrator of Norfolk Island slates that the little community is capable of supplying considerable quantities of foodstuffs and fruit to the outside world, but industry is at a standstill owing to lack of shipping facilities. Fruit-growing, which at one time was a payable proposition for the New South Wales market, now docs not pay. Efforts are being made with a view to 'introducing coffee cultivation, and if they prove satisfactory it will probably bo undertaken on a large scale. Meantime, the island has become a popular tourist resort, and the islanders are depending to a considerable extent upon the visitors. STUDENTS BROUGHT TO BOOK. HOBART, April 24. (Received April 24, at 8.55 a.m.) The behaviour of the university students at the annual commemoration lcd_ to the Lieu tenant-Governor (Sir Herbert Nicholls) taking extreme steps. When he rose to address the students his voice was continuously drowned by salvos Irom mechanical instruments. The Governor angrily resumed his scat, and, considering the demonstration an affront to the King through his .representative, refused to accept an apology, and struck all thoSe concerned off the Government House visiting list. The University Council informed the Students' Union that unless the offenders were punished the council will punish them. VICTORIA'S WHEAT YIELD. MELBOURNE, April 23. Victoria’s wheat yield' last season was 35,697,000 bushels, an nvarage of 12J, bushels per acre, the total being 8,170,000 bushels and the average 3.3 bushels below the 1921-22 crop.