AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1432, 4 March 1911, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

BY ELECTBIO TELEGBAPH-— COPTBISHT (PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION./ IRISH BLIGHT IN N S.W. Sydney, March 3. Early crops of" potatoes are practically free from Irish blight, but serious outbreaks in late crops are reported in. various parts of the State. = THE PROBLEM OF INDIANS IN FIJI.

The chairman of the Methodist ■ Conference of the Foreign Mission Society, referring to Fiji, said that while Fijians were decreasing at the rate of 1500 per annum, Indians were increasing by 4000 per annum. He warned the Church of the danger arising from Indians ousting Fijians. Another speaker asked what would become of Fiji if the Indians were allowed to overrun it. (Received March 4, 9.45 a.m.) THE MEAT MENACE. Sydney, March 4. The Herald states that the Beef Trust is working at both ends trying to corner the Australian market and operating against the importation of Australian meat to America. In America. the Trust not only controls the market, but the Legislature. The Herald mentions that in April of last year a quantity of Australian meat was imported to New York. The Trust was taken unawares, but since •then-no more meat has been got in. ISOLATED BY FLOODS. The rains continue. The north coast of Dorrigo is isolated owing to the impassible state of the roads. A telegram states that starvation is staring settlers in the face. I FAIR WEATHER. , The weather is fine and warm. RECIPROCITY QUESTIONS. . Melbourne, March 4. A deputation of members of the Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Hon. F. G. Tudor, Minister for Trade and Customs, in reference to reciprocity with Canada . and provision for the Australian-Canadian trade. The President stated that the I Postmaster-General might feel complacent over the discontinuance of a subsidised service and the substitution of the poundage system for the carriage of mails. It was cheaper, but there was a danger of New Zealand, which enjoyed reciprocity with Canada, cutting seriously into Australian trade and interests. The Federal Government might subsidise, not a mail, but a cargo service. Mr Tudor promised to lay the request before Cabinet, but said he did not expect the latter to take any action. He pointed out that the export jtrade to Canada in 1909 only amounted to £80,000. Steamers still come to Sydney, and the Commonwealth was no worse off regarding the service. CONSUMPTION. The Consumption Conference considered it desirable that sanitoria be established, and a large proportion of consumptives be admitted for a period for instruction and training in precautions to be tiaken against spreading infection. The admittance of consumptives to the general wards of hospitals and prisons was deprecated, and it "was held that separate accommodation should be provided. It was also considered that the State Governments should attend to the housing and maintenance of necessitous consumptives and their wives and families.

THE REFERENDA. Mr Lee, ex-Minister of Works, made a strong statement against the referenda, declaring that it would lead to anarchy, chaos, and a civil war. It was quite impossible for a central body to cope with the work of the whole of Australia.