AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 December 1944, Page 4

AUSTRALIA

LAND RECLAMATION.

CANBERRA, December 27. Almost limitless possibilities for the reclamation of waste lands which have a reasonable rainfall are revealed in a report presented to the Australian Minister of Commerce (Mr. Scully) on the refertilisatiqn of land by correcting mineral deficiencies. The report, prepared at Waite Institute, in South Australia, says that some of the “most wretched” land imaginable, after treatment, was now carrying upwards of three sheep to the acre. The basis of the new technique for increasing productivity of marginal lands is the discovery that arable soil needs minute traces of certain minerals hitherto not known to be necessary to prolific plant life. These metals include molybdenum, copper, zinc, potassium, borax, and manganese. The quantities of each are so minute that the cost of the soil treatment is trifling. Describing the results where experimental lands were treated with superphosphate and then given a mineral dressing, the report says: “In the treated area soil is carrying a beautiful set-up with prime fat lambs, Black Poll cattle, and beautiful subterranean ryegrass pastures. Outside the boundary fence the poverty of the soil is such that it would grow less feed than would support a bandicoot.” WHARF DISPUTE. PERTH, December 27. Australian service personnel are working on the Fremantle wharves unloading ships held up by the waterside workers’ strike. The servicemen are handling cargoes for the services and commercial goods of war importance. , , The Fremantle waterside workers ceased work on December 10 as a Protest against the rotary gang system being introduced. This system is in operation at all other Australian ports. It is hoped that a satisfactory settlement of the dispute will be reached soon. BRISBANE BRAWL. BRISBANE, December 27. More than 2000 civilians and Australian and American servicemen either watched or participated in a brawl which extended over halt a block in Brisbane last night. Following the disturbance all United States forces personnel were recalled to their stations. The brawl started after an argument between sailors and an American shore patrol. Civilians and Australian servicemen took sides, and in a few minutes hundreds of people were involved. Before the brawl was stoppea more than 300 American shore patrolmen and a large number of Brisbane civil police were called out. One civilian and some American sailors were later treated for injuries. Three civilians and one Australian soldier were arrested. STATE LOTTERIES. SYDNEY, December 27. A profit of £1,273,600 from 128 drawings made 1944 a record year for the New South Wales State lotteries. People bought 12,800,000 tickets, for which they paid £3,360,000. The lottery luck went to 161,152 people, who teceived £2,086,400 in prize money. DIVORCE PETITIONS

SYDNEY, December 28. The number of divorce petitions in New South Wales this year will be a record. When the Court hearings for the year end to-morrow, the total is likely to be about 4900 as against 3820 last year. The number of petitions in 1942 was 2897 and in 1941 2380. The average number during the four years preceding the war was 2300. Of last year’s petitions more than 58 per cent were lodged by husbands compared with 48 per cent in 1939. Applications from servicemen to have war-time marriages dissolved have shown a steady increase which is expected to be maintained.

AERIAL SERVICE. HOBART, December 28. An air service linking Tasmania with the South Island of New Zealand is likely if Australia’s commercial air services are nationalised, states Mr. H. C. Barnard, member of the Tasmanian House of Representatives. MIGRATION POLICY CANBERRA, December 28. The cost of the Commonwealth child migration plan, under which 51,000 children will be brought to Australia in three years would be between £20,000,000 and £30,000,000 it is officially stated. This would cover the' children’s passages to Australia and costs in caring for them to working age, when they would be absorbed into industry. Child migrants would be dispersed in all States. Garden homes for their early eduction would probably be converted military establishments near large towns. When the children reached secondary school age they would be placed in country centres. It is also announced that the Commonwealth Government has forward ed its plans for adult migration from Britain to Australia to the British Government, which has not yet formulated its policy on this matter. Australian proposals on British adult migration include demobilisation here of British servicemen wishing to stay in Australia after Japan’s defeat.