AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 274, 24 May 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[BY ELECTETC TELEGRAPH— COPYRIGHT.] [PBB PBBSB ASSOCIATION.] A" GIGANTIC CONCERN. Sydney May 23. Samuel Hordern informed the Arbitration Court that his firm's turnover was something under two million annually. They paid from £10,000 to £12,000 in wages fortnightly, and distributed from £6000 to £8000 in bonuses to salesmen alone. besides £25,000 amongst the heads of departments annually. AS OTHERS SEE US. Received May 24, 9.37 a.m. Sydney, May 24. Mr J. Reid, of Adelaide, president of the Federal Chamber of Manufacturers, addressing a meeting of members, gave his impressions of his recent visit to New Zealand. He said New Zealand was a colony for New Zealanders ; that was to say they wished to be independent of Australia. It was protectionist, and in the present revision of the tariff, Australian products would practically be excluded. The labor element ap» peared dominant. The colony appeared, to be in a prosperous state, but Australian workmen were returning to the Commonwealth, although earning higher wages in New Zealand. Other conditions existing made living dearer. When all was summed up Australian workmen were better off in Australia than New Zealand, In reply to a question with reference to coal mines, Mr Reid said the mines under the control of Government had the effect of keeping down the price. COAL AT NEWCASTLE. (Received May 24th, 9. 47 a.m.) Sydney, May 24. The coal shipping facilities at Newcastle are being improved by the erection of four dumping machines at a cost of £70.000. A conference has been practically arranged between the mine owners, strikers, and labor strikers for undertaking to provide men to keep the mine dry. # In the meantime swine fever is causing heavy losses in a considerable portion of the South Coast. George Towns declines to visit England this year because he desires to supervise his" brother's training in the race with Webb. The Cricket Association consider players attitude on Monday. A shipment of New South Wales oranges, infected with fruit fly, was destroyed by the Act which prohibits the importation of fruit likely to introduce the pest, being put into force. . . ... The action of Victoria in subsidising the steam line at Singapore is strongly resented by local exporters. A reprisal is threatened. THE MAIL CONTRACT. Melbourne, May 24. There is considerable anxiety regarding the Mail contract. It is considered unlikely that the Federal Government will move further in the matter, and that the subject will be dealt with by the Premiers at the Conference which opens in Brisbane next week. A renewal of Mr Bent's proposal, that the State Governments should guarantee the Australian section of the debenture holders £125,---000 annually for 10 years is likely to meet with considerable opposition. Mr Carruthers declines to say anything. „ rt Mr Kidston, Premier of Queensland, declares against it. The South Australian and Westralian and Tasmanian Premiers, it is believed, are more sympathetic. The other principal questions to be discussed at the Premiers' Conference will be the "Braddon blot," and the appointment of State Governors. QUEENSLAND ELECTIONS. (Received May 24th, 10.25 a.m.) Brisbane, May 24. The latest figures make Airey's defeat certain. PLAGtJE IN CHINA. Eastern files by the steamer Taiyuan show that the plague epedemic prevails from India to Chint. At Bangkok large bonfires are kept burning and patients who are expected to die are carried to the vicinity of the fires to await death and arc then burnt. Cases occur where patients have only swooned and toe thrown into the fire, when frightful shrieks and agonising screams follow. But there is no possibility of rescue. Stories are told of sick people being carried to the boats and abandoned by their inhuman relations, who are afraid of infection!, '