AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1937, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

BUTTERFAT RECORD. SYDNEY, August 1. “Bathurst Lavender,” a Jersey cow of four years, stationed at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, established a new butter-fat production record for all cows of that age on July 10th. "Bathurst Lavender,” under a 273day test, produced 13,4321 lb. of milk at an' average test of 6 per cent, and yielding 802.8 S lb. of butter-fat. The previous record was held by “Richmond Honour,” with 12,8581 b. of milk average test. 6.2 per cent, and yield- ! ing 793.32 lb of butter-fat. I 104 FINED FOR PLAYING TWO-UP. SYDNEY, July 30. At Central Police Court yesterday 104 men were lined £1 each for havI ing been found in a common gaming house in Albion Street on ThursI day night. Inspector Keefe said that I the room where the defendants had ' been discovered playing “two-up” was fitted with a padded floor and had lightproof windows. The persons controlling the game took 4s in the £ for winning bets, paid all lines, and employed a number of men as scouts and “cockatoos.” ANTI-S.P. BILL IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, July 31). A Starting-Price Betting Bill to provide restrictions on starting-price betting in Victoria on lines similar to the Queensland Act is being prepared, and will be submitted to the State Cabinet for approval on Monday week. The Bill will provide that no information be broadcast which will assist starting-price betters, and will impose heavier penalties on persons convicted of illegal betting. The general, opinion in Parliamentary circles is that the measure, even if it sees the light of day, will not survive the first reading. BANDITS GOT 81d AND THE CAR. MELBOURNE, July 29. Two armed and masked bandits held up two young men in a car in Albert Park at 2 a.nt., to-day. The gunmen got only SRI, but took the 1 car and made off. INFLUX OF EUROPEANS. CANBERRA, July 30. Arrivals of Southern Europeans in Australia exceeded departures by 19§3 during 1936-37, according to a return completed by the Immigration Branch of the Department of the Interior,. to-day. In 1927, the excess of arrivals was 7079 persons. Referring Io the figures, the Minister for Hie Interior, Mr Paterson, said that 36 per cent, of the Southern Europeans who arrived here were women and children, and of the remainder nearly’ three of every’ four had arrived in Australia to take up rural employment.. The Federal Government desired to attract Northern European migrants to Australia, but economic pressure in those parts apparently was not so strong as in Southern European countries.

MAN'S STRONGHOLD ON BUSH TOWER. PERTH, July 28. 1 Perched on the lop of a Forestry Observation Tower in lhe bush, IS miles from Harvey, a sustenance worker, 45 year's of age, armed with a rifle, is defying police and threatening to shoot them if they try to ascend the tower to capture him. It is reported that he wrote threatening Io wipe out his wife and six children, and would stay at the top of the tower until the Chief Justice came from Perth to hear his complaint. The police immediately went to got him, but he ran six miles through the bush last night and climbed the tower. Constables and civilians have endeavoured to climb the tower, but the man has driven them back by threatening to open lire. His wife and children have been taken to another home for safety The police will keep an all-night watch on the tower, and if he is still there in the morning the Commissioner of Police will be asked for additional men. The man was employed on an abandoned agricultural bank farm, and is a returned soldier. VAIN PLEA. SYDNEY, July 28. Having spent live years in gaol of a life sentence for robbery with violence and the throwing of ammonia, which blinded a William Street, post oilice oflieial, Paul Grierson read a speech from notes yesterday when he unsuccessfully, appealed to the Full Court of Criminal Appeals. , The court comprised the Chief Justice, Sir Frederick Jordan, Mr Justice Haise Rogers, and Mr Justice Davidson. Grierson intimated that if he was granted a new trial he would call fresh evidence in support 'of his case. At Sydney Quarter Sessions in December, 1932, Judge Thomson sentenced Grierson to 35 years’ gaol after a jury convicted him of assault and robbery, and of having thrown a corrosive fluid. In March. 1933, the Full Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed Grierson’s appeal against the conviction, but decided that the maximum sentence for his offence was penal servitude for life—2o years. ■ When Grierson’s further appeal was called yesterday the Full Court upheld a preliminary objection by the Crown Solicitor (Mr Weigali, K.C.,1 who contended' that Grierson could not now be heard because the court had already heard and dismissed his appeal. The Chief Justice pointed out that il was often to lhe Minister for Justice Io consider lhe case and order an inquiry under Section 475 of the Crimes Act, if he thought lit. Asking permission to read his speech from notes, Grierson prefaced his address with the statement: “Due partly to inability to express myself favourly without notes, and partly due Io the effects of live years’ incarceration, which has prevented me from marshalling my thoughts without confusion, except in the solitude of my cell I ask the Court to let. me read entirely from notes.” Grierson then read for 14 minutes his speech from ail exercise book. It is understood that Grierson will 1 now submit his fresh evidence con- I cerning his alleged innocence to the | Minister for Justice with a request

that an inquiry under the Crimes Act be held. A.W.U. STAND PERTH July 29. An echo of the recent deelnrnllon b.v the Australian Council of Trades Unions of its policy in eojmection with war, was heard al the resumed meeting of the State executive ol the Australian Workers' Union in Perth. The subject was introduced by a letter from the Kalgoorlio and Boulder section of the union, which recommended that the A.W.U., should affiliate with the Australian Council of Trades Unions. The recommendal ion was unanimously rejected, and after the meeting the general secretary, Mr V. Johnson, said, that the A.W.U., .gave no support whatever Io (he A.C.T.U., and the policy of the A.W.U., was in no wav affected by the decisions of the A.C.T.U.

“We go further,” said Mr Johnson, “and repudiate their right to speak for the trade unionists of this State. Wo can speak for at least 12,000 trade unionists who are affiliated with the /Australian Labour Party, and who wholly’ subscribe to the Labour policy decided upon by the constitutionallyelected delegates at the last State Labour Conference in Perth and the Federal Labour Conference held recently in Adelaide. WAR POSSIBILITY. MELBOURNE, July 28. Starting his forthcoming election campaign, the Prime Minister, Mr Lyons, stated at a civic reception “we could not shut our eyes to the possibility’ of war.” . , He made reference to Australia s defence measures and declared that among Empire leaders at the Imperial Conference they had met with approval on every’ point. Great Britain, said Mr Lyons, had peace as her objective. Her armaments would not be used for aggression or .in conflict with a peaceful people. Dame Enid Lyons said an effort towards the preservation of world friendship should be made by every country that valued world peace. SYDNEY, July 28.

In a luncheon address in Sydney, the Minister for Defence, Sir Archdale Parkhill, intimated that the Government would shortly ask the people to consider efforts necessary for the Commonwealth’s local defence and its share in the defence of the Empire. Australia could not provide naval forces sufficient for its security, or single-handed, defeat a powerful aggressor. It was vitally necessary that Australia’s defence be closely related to that of the Empire. “50,000 CHILDREN LOST.” SYDNEY, July 27. A religious revival was Hie only w’ay of arresting the decline of Australia's birth-rate, said the Federal Minister for Health (Mr. Hughes). Nothing else, he said in an interview would stir the public conscience. Mr. Hughes spoke with feeling as he quoted figures upon the proportion of illegal operations to births in recent years. Prince Henry Hospital shqwed that, of 3210 women treated there in 1919, 45 were admitted after having lost ’children in this way. In 1934 the proportion was 5304 to 946- more than 17 times greater than in 1919. In 1935 the birth-rate .was 16.89 a 1000 of Hie population, and according to State returns would have been 19.19 a 1000 in normal conditions, or back to the 1930 level. ‘lnstead of that,” said Mr. Hughes “it is apparent that since 1930 we have lost 50,000 children who should not have been lost. “Upon solution of this problem depends not only’ the safety of the nation but also its economic well-being 1 . “It is apparent that if this drift in population continues, with falling births and migration at a standstill people will not build nor will industries expand. The stimulus will be reduced. “Many’ people consider that a lower population means less unemployment. They should not forget the effect of demand. “I believe that people should be as sured the economic security necessary for raising families. “But the cause of this problem is not economic. It began with the rich and is spreading rapidly among the poor. “Illegal operations are murder,, said Mrs. L. E. Goodisson, of the Racial Hygiene Association.

“They are being practised here tremendously by qualified medical men. by ‘quacks,’ and by nurses, who have no right to do it. GIRLS’ BROKEN SPINE. TOWNS VILLE, July 27. Lying on board the steamer Merkur with a fractured spine, Miss Alison Yabsley, of Killara, Sydney, smilingly said to-day she was so determined to be on her feet by Clxristmas that she made plans to attend a dance' next year. Thirteen weeks ago Miss Yabsley broke her spine in a motor accident, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, during a pleasure cruise on the Nieuw Holland. She herself saved her life largely because of her indomitable courage, say doctors. A specially-designed steel bed was sent from Singapore, and in this the girl was placed on the Merkur. With her, is her mother, who flew to Singapore from Sydnej’, Miss E C. Bodsen, matron of Kuala Lumpur Hospital and a trained Chinese nurse. Miss Kim Keou. Daily massage Jias been given by Mrs. Herbert, a trained masseuse, who is a passenger on the Merker, and Miss Yabsley can now move her hands and fingers. “I lifted some food to my mouth today, and I’ll soon be swinging rm arms round this cabin,” said the gin when the ship arrived. She is still paralysed from lhe hips down, and lias her back' and neck in a special jacket. “I never know anyone so afflicted could be so cheerful and happy,” said Captain Blair, master of the Merkur. Aliss Yabsley is the brightest and most uncomplaining passenger I have ever carried.” FORTUNE-TELLING CHARGE ■ DISMISSED •. When replying to questions handed to him by people during a performance, he always prefixed the answer with “I think” or “I advise,” Nathaniel Julius Copeland, known as “Argus,” told the magistrate, Air. Balmain, at the Central Summons Court yesterday. Mr. Balmain found the offence against “Argus”—pretending to tell fortunes —proved, but: dismissed the information under section 556 A of the Crimes Act. The magistrate said he was satisfied that this was not an

ordinary case of fortune-telling, that it was more in the light of a test rase. The defendant had been suftlcioutly punished by loss of time and the expense of solicitors to warrant lurther penalty, Although Mr. Balmain had refused

"Argus” permission to give a demonstration during the hearing of the ease, "Argus” gave a performance during an adjournment. After accurately describing playing cards selected from a pack by a constable, “Argus,” who was blindfolded with a black cloth, told a policeman what he was thinking about. The policeman was asked to whisper a thought to his father.

“lie is of the penalty in these cases. He is thinking—something about, six—that the penalty is up to six months,” “Argus” replied. The policeman agreed that this was exactly what: was in his mind. In his evidence, “Argus” -stated that he did not claim that he could tell what was going to happen in the future. On the day on which the offence was alleged to have occurred, he was not telling people something about the future, but was stating possible facts conveyed to him by his father by thought transference. “I never answer a question unless I say “I think” or “I advise,” he added. Summing-up the case, Mr Sheahan, for the defendant, said that there had not been a positive answer given in the performance. “It is not more than Mr. Mares forecasts the weather on the facts that he has,” Mr. Sheahan said. Mr. Balmain dismissed the information with the payment of 8/- costs.