COMMONWEALTH NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 26 May 1915, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH NEWS.

EFFECTS OF THE WAR

NOT FELT AS MUCH AS

ANTICIPATED

THE VATICAN'S ATTITUDE

DOUBT CAST ON CABLED STATEMENTS.

(Received M?~ 2G, Z,2g a.nj.) V •*_. * i _.' SYDNEY, May 26. in the Arbitration Court Judge Heydon > dealing with the application by the Railway Engineers and Firemen's Association for increased wages, referred to the rule of the Court that applications to impose additional burdens on the community were not to be made by public servants at present excepting under special circumstances. He had come to the conclusion that the present condition of the community no longer supplied a sufficient reason for continuing this rule. The effect of the war on the financial and economic posi-, tion of individual members oi the community did hot appear as great as had been feared; trade was reviving, and the pastoral and agricultural outlook was bright. As an instance he mentioned that in face of so many other calls there had been record Belgian and Hospital Day collections. Monsighor Seretti, the Papal dele-j gate, gives no credence to the cabled i report that the Pone subscribed £4000 to Italian victims of war. The policy of the Vatican, he said, was always strict neutrality, and he also described as unlikely the' Paris message that the Pope was about to issue a manifesto approving of Italy's intervention and sympathising with the Allies. It was true the Church had subjects in all belligerent countries, and due care must be observed not to hurt* the feelings of any section of Catholics. MELBOURNE, May 26.

The Attorney-General's Department is taking action in connection with serious allegations regarding defence contracts. The authorities are reticent.