IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16011, 1 September 1915, Page 8

IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

PEACE ADVOCATES' DUTY. ADVICE TO DEPUTATION. (Received August 31. &5 p.m.) Adelaide, August 31. A deputation of the peace advo- | cates presented a petition to the j Chief Secretary nob to allow the ! continuance of mob law, such as the I harrying of peace advocates in the j Botanic Park. The Chief Secretary i advised the deputation that they I were not helping the country in the ! present crisis by setting up indis- ! creet citizens to preach absurd I principles. The duty of peace socieI ties was to maintain peace at home j and not cause breaches of the peace.

WAR INVENTIONS. ANTI-GAS APPARATUS. Melbourne. August 31. Senator G. F. Pearce, Federal ! Minister, in a statement on the work ; of the Federal Munitions Committee., , says that an efficient anti-gas api paratus has been invented by scien- ! tists at the Melbourne University, ' where 10,000 are being manufaci tured. A copy of the specifications i and samples have been sent to EngI land. j The Queensland Committee is inI vestigating concerning the production of a khaki dye for the local wools. The committee is also investigating the possibility of the manufacture of picrid acid and trinitro toluene.

REFERENDUM QUESTION. NO POSTPONEMENT. Melbourne, August 31. In the House, in reply to Mr. Joseph Cook's question whether, in view of the serious nature of the European outlook and the mounting number of casualties, and the disability of the people to concentrate their attention or* the war. he would not postpone the Referendum, Mr. Aiu'rew Fisher stated that the Government believed that ' the Referendum would not weaken, but would strengthen Australia, and therefore he would not postpone it.

PREJUDICING RECRUITING OFFENDER FINED £100. Sydney, August 31. James Lalor was fined £100 on a charge of making a statement likely to prejudice recruiting. The offence occurred at "Wangs. James Lalor. who is a mine manager, is a grandson . of Peter Lalor, of Eureka Stockade tame. The information alleged that accused used in a hotel the words: " This war is a capitalistic war. The Kin? should be shot and the Queen have her ! throat cut." The prosecuting counsel, in asking for a remand when the case first came up. said he was considering whether accused should not- be arraigned on the more serious charge of seditious utterances. Another grandson of Peter Lalor was recently killed while fighting at. the front. • LATE GENERAL BRIDGES INTERMENT AT CANBERRA. % * Received August 31. 10.30 p.m.) Melbourne, August 31. The remains of the late General Bridges, % who has died of wounds received on Gallipoli when in command of the Australian division, have arrived. They will be interred with full State and military honours at- Canberra on Friday.

RECRUITING IN QUEENSLAND. PARLIAMENT ASSISTS. (Received August 31, 10.30 p.m.) Brisbane, 31. The recruiting campaign in Queensland has received a decided stimulus as a result of Parliament specially adjourning for a week to enable members to give their assistance. The Government provided special trains to convey parties of politicians to the country and backblock districts. Shearers and. other rural workers have responded freelv.