AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12040, 9 August 1902, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright NORFOLK ISLAND. INQUIRY. Stdset, August 8. As the result of the representations marls by Mr. Farnell, the visiting magistrate to Norfolk Island, Mr. ..m Oliver will be appointed a special commissioner to visit the island and make a thorough investigation into the demands of the inhabitants, especially in regard to improved educational and postal facilities and a better steam service. The Governor states that he intends to recommend the Commonwealth to take over the control of the island. Admiral Beaumont has just returned from a visit to Norfolk Island. He expressed himself charmed with the brightness and fertility of the island. SALE OF NEW ZEALAND SHEEP V IN SYDNEY. Sydney, August 8. ' About 1000 New Zealand sheep arrived' late, and were sold after the regular sales* many buyers ' waiting. Crossbred wethers sold up to 465. About 400, on behalf ofi Scales (Wellington) ranged from 25s 6d to 54s 6d. THE WOMEN'S FRANCHISE BILE.*"" I -/^-.-v;' ; - " Sydney, August 8. >, The Women's Franchise Bill has been:; restored to the Council's Order Paper for' Wednesday, when the question of taking a referendum of the women will be further considered. ■'« THE GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP* ' MKLBOtmtfB, August 8. '~, The Government proposals for the* Go» rernor-General's establishments in Me!*-. bourne and - Sydney have - been tabled ■ i»j' the Federal House. The appropriation* last year totalled over £13,000. For thai " present year they are down to , under', £5200. The amount allotted to the Mel-* bourne establishment is £3100, and th«" Sydney £2000.

THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT, '' MELBOtntifE, ■' Xugoßt 8. ' *>;

The Executive Council appropriations! are considerably reduced. An alteration is made in the method of communication 1 between the Federal and Imperial Govern-*, ments, which will have the result of th*" responsibility being placed on an officer, responsible to the Federal Government^ •

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DEFICIT, , v Adelaide, August 8. \ A revised statement of the finances shows ' that for the past year, ended in June,; there is a deficit of £220,000, to which" is to be added . the debit balance « of! ; £170,000 from the previous year. '..- The Government intend to issue Treasury- bills l to cover the deficit. ~'•■'

CATTLE FOR SOUTH AFRICA; Permit, August 8. The Government intend to restrict the export of cattle to South Africa, the stock being required locally.

THE MISSING QUEUING. Sydney, August 8. ' The National Shipwreck Relief Society, has voted temporary relief to the families of the crew of the missing steamer Quirniug. ' ; .

THE MINING DISASTER. Sydn-ey, August S. The experts are of opinion that the Mount Kembla disaster was caused by a. heavy fall-in the old workings, causing the circulation of coal dust, which, reaching the naked lights in the mine, exploded:

THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE. (Received August 9, 1.7 a.m.) ■ i Sydney, August 8. The Premier is using Lis influence to avert a shearing strikej and is trying to arrange another conference of pastoralists and 'shearers. There are good prospects that his efforts will he successful. ;■'■ V->-> ■:■'; •: .-."..-'•-". —: r ■■'/'..' ■'■■"''■ ■' ■'i4t^issi?s . THE FEDERAL TARIFF. (Received August 9, 1.7 a.m.) Melbourne, August 8. In the Federal House, on the Senate's suggestion to place fruits and vegetables on the free list, Mr. Smith moved to strike out vegetables. This led to a general discussion! on. the proposal to remit the fodder ' duties for the sake of starving stock, and obtaining supplies of New Zealand produce was mooted. Mr. Skene opposed New. Zealand fodder being allowed to come in fl as there was plenty of hay and, chaff tvail-' .'< able in Victoria,: but root ; crops: should'. bo. ;1 ' ; allowed to come in free from New Zealand..! Mr.. Kennedy quoted figures to show that, hay and oats were the same price in New.. Zealand as in ' Melbourne. It would not' pay to feed sheep on roots. Mr. Smith's amendment was negatived. He then moved to reduce vegetables to Is a cental, This .was carried. • ' ■.'V* • V -■■'■"'' ■' : ' : '' r '■■' ■ ' ■''■■-: 'v' : : ;:HS : 'f^ It was in 1880 that the era of strikes be* gan in America, and in the 20 years from 1881 to 1900 there were about 23,000 of these industrial wars, or more than a thousand a year."' These, interesting figures are. given by Carroll D. Wright, United States Commissioner of Labour; in the North: > American Review, and he adds the still more interesting fact that nearly 51 per cent*', of all these strikes were successful, thirteen per cent, succeeded partly, while 36 per cent, failed. The strikes lasted an • average of about 24 days, . and more than 6,000,000 employees, all told, were out of work for a longer or shorter period. This l idleness resulted in a wage loss to them of nearly £51,600,000, while the loss of ' their employers was about £25,600,000. or less than half the loss of the strikers. Most/ | of the strikes were caused by disputes about * wages and hours. The " sympathetic" . strikes, and strikes based entirely on demands for recognition of unions, failed in the great majority of cases. Six lines of industry seem particularly liable to strike— the building trades, the coal and coke industry, the manufacture of metals and metallic goods, and the* clothing, tobacco, and transportation industries. Of the total number of strikes in the 20 years, 59 per cent, were, in these six industries; including 77 per cent, of the total number of establishments affected and 72 per cent, of the total number of employees "involved. - Strikes indicate intelligence, says the ' Commissioner,: but arbitration indicates more intelligence. To quote*: " Whatever the exact truth, the approximate statements are sufficient to convince any right-minded person that every ';" ; effort that ; can be > made to adjust differences and deal with grievances in such a way 1 as to prevent an open outbreak should be encouraged. Such attempts, where hon-' estly and faithfully made, are leading every-* , where whether in the United States or m" other countries devoted to manufacturing industries to satisfactory results. " The or- ■. i ganisation of private boards of arbitration now being resorted to in this country, following the long-successful example in the . industries of Great Britain, is meeting with success. With increased intelligence men will look back upon the strike period as one of development; and when they shall have accommodated themselves to the new conditions, and when employers shall have recognised the increased intelligence of their employees, these matters will be handled i in such a way as to prevent in the future * "repetition of incidents like those which are ; _> I -chronicled in the statistical history of the ' \ [ strikes of the last 20 years..- '■ ' * . ' ;;; \ .