AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 17

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

JTIOUS NOODLES” NOT WANTED

Bishop Barlow, of Goulburn, recently appointed Archdeaeon Shields, of Wagga, to the charge of the Anglican Clergy Training College to be established in connection with the Gonlburn diocese, A© the Archdeacon was being removed from Wagga in consequence, after only five months’ sojourn in the parish, Bishop Barlow explained the situation at St. < John’s Church in that town on Sunday evening. The need for a training college was great, he said. Nothing would tempt him to lay the hands of ordination upon men because they were good. The Church did not want pious noodles, or young men who, failing in every department of life, come to the Church as a hospital for incurables. He wanted men in touch with the trend of thought of today.' and men who had something more than a gospel of posture, more than a gospel of party, and more than a gospel of ritual. —Sydney 'Daily Telegraph.” DEATH FROM ANTHRAX. A man named Lewis, aged 42, living at Clifton Hill, was received into the Melbourne Hospital on February 27, suffering from a complaint which was diagnosed as anthrax. He died during the night. The deceased was a partner in tli9 wholesale and retail firm of Parsons and Lewis, importers of hair and brush materials. When received at the Hospital he had a malignant pustule on the chin. The bacteriological examination confirmed the diagnosis, and it was surmised that infection was contracted from imported hair, and communicated to his blood through the avenue of a small abrasion in his skin received while getting shaved. EDUCATIONAL ADVANCES IN NEWSOUTH WALES. Among the many recommendations made by the New South Wales Educational Commissioners in their recent rexport was one Avhich advised the total abolition of the pupil teacher system in the public schools. In consequence of this the Education Department decided that a new system, should be inaugurated on March 10. Describing the change the Sydney "Daily Telegraph” of February 28, says: To-morrow the new scheme begins, when 350 hoys and girls, between the ages of 15 and 18, will start a two years’ course of secondary education at either the High or District Schools, preparatory to h subsequent course of training in the principles and practice of teaching. For the purposes of this secondary education, in addition to the High Schools, the following have been made "District” Schools: —Bathurst, Bega, Broken Hill, Bowral, Dubbo, Forbes, Glen Innes, Goulburn, Grafton, West Kempsey, Lismore, Maitland, Narrabri, Newcastle, Parramatta South, Tamwortn, Taree, Wagga, Wollongong, Young, and Fort Street Model. A student may elect to attend either a High School or the nearest convenient District School. The scholarship carries only exemption from fees and free text books for the first twelve months: but during the second year a grant of <£l2 is made to students liflng at home, or <£2s if they have to board out. Of the 350 successful students, 41 boys and 53 girls are in the metropolitan districts, and nine boys and 19 girls came from, the Fort Street Model School, and, with others, may elect to continue their education there. The remainder go to the Sydney High Schools. As occasion arises these probationary students -will be drafted off as probationary teachers, and although for the next two .years the only difference will be in name, the pupil teacher may be said to leave the departmental stage to-day.

AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE AT THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

The New South Wales Government lias decided that that State shall be adequately represented at the New Zealand International Exhibition, to be opened in Christchurch on November 1, The exhibition will, it is believed, provide a rd opportunity for New South Wales bring her varied resources and valuable products under notice, while, so fains New Zealand is concerned, no effort will, it is claimed, he spared to take advantage of the opportunity afforded of improving Australian trade with our colony, in commodities that afford a prospect of business. The New South Wales Government is reported to be anxious to secure the co-operation of business men, manufacturers, winegrowers, and others interested in the proper representation of the State. The Director of the Intelligence Department, Mr H. C. L. Anderson, is acting as the New South Wales Commissioner to the Exhibition, and the Premier has approved of his applying for 5000 feet of space. Already Victoria and South Australia have applied for this an.o.unt of space, and it is believed that the other States will promptly follow suit. ENTHUSIASTIC CRICKETER. A notable instance of fortitude on the part of a cricketer was displayed on February 24, in a match between Carlton and East Melbourne. Gerber and Warne were at the wickets, and before the former had scored a hot ball struck the handle of - his bat, and was played with full force on hie face. Gerber s nose was smashed, his lips were cut in, a ghastly manner, and one of his teeth was broken off. On being taken fro® the ground he was conveyed to the Alelbourne Hospital, where his injuries were treated. It was generally supposed by those watching the match that Gerber bad returned' to his home, but later in the afternoon everybody was astonished when he rushed into the cricket ground, Wl th bis' bead swathed in bandages, to if Carlton were all out. As his

team was still batting, Gerber insisted on playing out his interrupted innings. He was at the wickets for half an hour, and bit freely for 18 before he was caught. FEDERAL OLD AGE PENSIONS. The following are the chief recommendations in the report of the Pensions Commission which was to the Governor-General on February 27. The commission finds that the total cost of pensions uow is approximately: —New South Wales, 22,000 pensioners, <£508,000 per annum; Victoria, 11,452 pensioners, £205,000 per annum; New Zealand, 11,770 pensions, <£325,000 per annum. It is desirable the commission thinks, that a Commonwealth system should be established at an early date. There is a consensus of opinion that old-age pensions should be under the control of the Commonwealth. Many necessitous and otherwise qualified persons are unable to obtain pensions in New South Wales or Victoria, through not having lived a sufficient number of years in either State, though they may have resided in Australia beyond the qualifying period fixed by either of those States. It is recommended that the pensions be paid out of the consolidated revenue. Various suggestions have been made, including a wages stamp tax, duties on tea and kerosene, an absentee tax, a tax on the unimproved land values, a Government monopoly of tobacco and industry, additional duties on intoxicants and matches, and a tax on amusements. A wages tax, if fixed at 2d, is estimated to return <£428,000, duties on tea and kerosene <£Boo,ooo, an absentee tax of 3d in the pound £925,000, a tax on unimproved land values at Id in the pound, with an exemption of £240, £1,174,425. The commissioners recommend that during the operation of section 87 of the Constitution, which provides for the return by the Commonwelath to the States of at least three-fourths of the net revenue from Customs and excise duties, an arrangement should be made by the Commonwealth with the States by which sufficient money should be handed over to the Commonwealth for the purpose of making good any deficiency in tlie consolidated revenue caused by establishing the pensions system. The cost of okl-age pensions, as proposed by the commission, is estimated at £1,500,000 per annum in all States. There should be a considerable reduction, it is suggested, in incfigence allowances, which, in many cases, are virtually pensions. The commissioners recommend that a bill embodying the proposal should be submitted by the Government for the early consideration of Parliament. That the rate of pensions should be fixed at a maximum of 10s per week, subject to any deductions hereinafter recommended. That the qualifying age should be 6o years, but that it may be reduced to 60 where an applicant is permanently incapacitated from work. That a residential qualification should be imposed as follows: —In all cases a continuous residence in the Commonwealth of 25 years, provided (a) that where the applicant is a native-born resident, with an aggregate residence of at least 60 years in the Commonwealth, such continuity shall not be deemed to be interrupted by absences totalling not more than six years, nor (b) than in all other cases such continuity shall not be deemed to be uninterrupted by absences totalling not more than three years. That where otherwise qualified, the following persons shall be eligible for an old-age passion: —(1) All natural-born British subjects of a white race, and (2) all persons resident in the Commonwealth (not being aboriginal natives of Australia, Asia, Africa, or the islands of the Pacific) who have been naturalised for three years next preceding the date on which they make their pension claims. That every pension granted should be held subject to review, amendment, suspension, and cancellation at any time by the authorities clothed with the power in that behalf. That provision should be made to compel a husband, wife, or children, as the case may be, if in a position to do eo, to contribute to the amount of pension. That if an applicant or a pensioner be proved to be of disreputable or intemperate habits, the magistrate should have power to recommend (a) in the case of an applicant, that the application be refused or granted, conditionally on payment being made through an agent; (b) in case of a pensioner, the forfeiture of one or more instalments, or that payment be made through an agent, or cancellation of pension. That the yearly income of a pensioner from all sources, inclusive of pension, should not exceed £52 per annum. That the deduction on account of income from othei sources be £1 for every £ over £26 per annum. That the net capital value of accumulated property held by an applicant should not s-«:ceed £3lO, - That the deduction on account pf property should be £1 from pension on every £lO of net capital value over £SO, excepting where the property of an applicant consists of a home in which he permanently resides, and which produces no income/ then an exemption of £IOO should be allowed. That the property of a pensioner at death should vest in the registrar of probate or curator of interstate estates, as the case may be, as the officer acting for the Commonwealth Government, and indebtedness on account of pension money paid should be liquidated therefrom in priority to all other claims. Pension money received from time to time should he a continuing charge on any land acquired by the pensioner before or after the receipt of pension notice of such charge to be recorded by the registrar of lands titles, as from the date of grant of peneibn. That a penalty should be imposed for supplying an old-age pensioner with intoxicating drink. , ... ~ The opinion, is expressed by the Commissioners that the fact of a necessitous person being entitled to a pension of 10s per week ar 65 years will not have any

appreciable influence on the saving habit at an earlier age. However, in order to encourage thrift and a spirit of independence, they suggest that the Government should establish an assurance system, which would afford those who desire to do so, every opportunity of making provision for old-age with certainty. Furnished by. a Government guarantee a scheme under which a parent could on payment of a small sum or sums, secure for his child an old-age pension, or any person could by a similar payment on bis own behalf, provide a like benefit in old age, would, the Commissioners state, be worthy of careful consideration. Such system, on liberal lines, would be an inducement to thrift.

The Commissioners hope that their recommendations, which they contend are based on broad humanitarian lines, will find a ready acceptance by Parliament and the people of the Commonwealth. FRAUDULENT SYRIANS. A case of glaring fraud by an insolvent was, says an Adelaide despatch of February 27, disposed of by the Insolvency Commissioner to-day. Ilis Honour stated that bankrupt, S-alim Alie Mucksad, formerly of Millicent, hawker, had, with his partner, another Syrian named Nabba, whojwas of bad commercial repute, obtained' as many articles on credit in Adeliade as they possibly could, and proceeded to the south-eastern portion ot the State, where they ©old some of the goods. They also travelled into Victoria, where they had a clearing sale, offering their waggon, horses, and goods at an alleged sacrifice. The reason given for the gale was that they were going to Syria, where they were coining into a fortune. The value of the property the two men had taken away with them was about £4OO, and the insolvent, who had done all the clerical work of the business, and was the shrewd man, would be field legally responsible to his creditors until he could satisfy the Court that he had not got any of the money. The order of the Court was that the Court’s protection should be withdrawn from the insolvent, and that he should be ordered into custody. GARROTERS IN MELBOURNE. A sensational case of assault and robbery occurred in the respectable Melbourne suburb Kew on the night of February 24, when Air T. P. Deegan, a well-known wine and spirit merchant was attacked by two men and robbed of £lO. Mr Deegan’s description of the affair was as follows: —‘Walking along Pakington Street, when opposite Air Chapman’s mansion, I noticed a conveyance, with a light, drawn lip. I took it to be a cab at the time. I had gone about twenty yards further, and was in the shade of some pepper trees overhanging from a garden, when two men, who must have been standing with their backs against the fence, 'opened out’ as suddenly as a streak of lightning, and one, who was nearest the fence, put his right arm around my throat and jerked my head back. Then they brought me to tlie ground, and one put his thumb on my throat to stop me from breathing. I pulled his fingers away several times, and tried to shout, but he put his other hand over my mouth and kept my mouth shut. I then got his hand off and commenced to shout. He said, 'Shut up!’ .and kicked me in the stomach. The other fellow 'went through’ my pockets. When I could get a chance to speak I said, ‘lf you want my money, take it.’ They took a canvas banking bag of silver containing about £lO from my hip pocket, also the keys of the shop and a handkerchief. There was in my upper vest pocket, on the side next to the ground, a little paper bag containing sixteen sovereigns. I took it from the pocket, and pushed it in between my shirt ani vest, and' they did not find it. They also missed 4s 6d, which was in another vest pocket. They were in a hurry, and when I had been on the ground three or four minutes they jumped up, scampered into the conveyance, and drove towards High Street. I rose up and chased them, shouting. I had got within sixty yards of them when they turned into High Street and drove towards Alelbourne. There were two or three young fellow: on the road, and one of them said, ‘What’s the matter? Are you mad?’ I said, ‘No; I’ve been robbed by one of those men in the buggy.’ They said, ‘Run to Cody’s Hotel and telephone to the police.’ I did so, and a constable came and saw me home. I believe another of the men ran to the police station. If they had run after the men in the conveyance they could have caught them. They were not the men whom I saw leaving Pakington Street iu the first instance.” Throe men were afterwards seen by a lady driving in a buggy from the scene of the assault. ASTRALIAN FOOTBALL FOR AAIERICA. At a meeting of the Victorian Football League held at the Port Phillip Club Hotel, Alelbourne, on February 23, the secretary, Air E. L. Wilson, read a letter from Air Lupton, of the Wisconsin University, U.S.A., asking the League to forward a copy of the rules, and information bearing upon the Australian game of football. The writer explained that in consequence of the great number of school players injured during the last season, the American game had become to be held in disfavour amongst the colleges and universities, many of them having decided to abandon the game altogether. A discussion took place as to the possibilities of initiatng a movement throughout America for the establishment of the Australian game there. Mr J. Worrall moved that a letter explanatory of the game be sent to the principals of the various colleges and universities in the United States.

The Chairman, Mr H. C. A. Harrison, said he had noticed that President Roosevelt was strongly interested in football generally, and opposed to the rough game played in his own country.. He suggest-

ed that a letter be sent to the President instead. (Hear, hear). He would b® sure to go into the matter with characteristic energy • and thoroughness, and it would be a splendid thing for Australia and America to be able to play international matches. ■Several delegates spoke in favour of the idea, and it was eventually decided that the secretary should draft a letter, to be sent to both President Roosevelt and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Canadian Premier, stating the rules, and all particulars relating to the game. A subcommittee was appointed to assist in the dial't.ng of the letter. —"Age.”

FEDERAL AMMUNITION 'SUPPLIES',

It has transpired, according to the "Age,” that the Commonwealth Government is convinced that the oft-discussed proposal for the establishment of a Federal factory for the manufacture of military explosives is out of the question.

All Australia’s supplies for some year© would be made in two months, and then the highly trained staff and costly machinery would be idle. Alinisters are, therefore, considering an offer made to them by the representatives of the world famous explosives company, Messrs Nobel, which is calculated to meet the difficulties of the situation. What Alessrs Nobel offer to do is practically this:—ln return for a subsidy or retainer the company will undertake to store in Australia the materials and machinery, etc., for making sufficient cordite to meet the heaviest conceivable demands of the Australian army and navy. The company will further undertake, on tlie receipt of so many weeks’ or days’ notice to make the cordite at a price which, though somewhat in advance of the commercial price of cordite in England, is considered reasonable in view of the difference in labour, expenditure, etc., between Great Britain and Australia. 'Whether Alinisters will close with this offer remains to be seen. They may find it best to follow the example of Canada, which has no factory, but stores 100 tone of cordite as its regular reserve. They will, however. probably wait until the Military Board has considered ,a report which Lieutenant-Colonel Irving has written on his visit to Government factories in England. Respecting the allied proposal to establish or purchase a factory for the manufacture of artillery and small arms cartridges, ministers ax’© likely to take a more favourable view. They have to decide between two courses—the setting up of an ammunition factoi’y on the lines of the Canadian arsenal, or the purchase of tho Colonial Ammunition Company’s works in Victoria as a going concern. The tendency is towards the second alternative. The Alinister of Defence lias, however, declined to commit himself to any premature pronouncement on the question. It is understood, however, that Colonel Bxfidges will while in England obtain data from Colonel Nathan, the administrative head of the R.G.P.F. at Waltham Abbey, and this will facilitate an early Ministerial decision. THE HARVESTER TRUST. The following somewhat mysterious paragraph in reference to the operations in Australia of the American Harvester Ti-ust appeared in the "Age” of Alarch 2. The Harvester Trust is trying a fresh, method of reducing the .invoice or dutiable value of tlie machines it is seeking to dump in the Commonwealth. The precise details of the method adopted, cannot at the present juncture be divulged further than that it concerns inland freight charges, and the sending of railway trucks from Ontario to a Chicago factoi’y and then sending the whole freight to a Canadian port for shipment to Australia and New Zealand. At a later stage the whole story will become public property, as the Minister of Customs yesterday took action which must bring the details of the transaction to light. Tho Minister owes the knowledge he has gained of the movements of the persistent enemies of the Australian harvester industry to the good offices of the British consul .at Chicago, a particularly keen and alert official. The British consul sent a report to the Ebderal Government desci’ibing cei’tain extraordinary actions which came under his observation. As a result of the information thus received Sir William Lyne telegraphed to the Collector of Customs, Queensland, directing him .to take a course with regal’d to certain shipments of harvesters. AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE. The steamer Norkoowa from the Soloman Islands and New Guinea arrived at Brisbane on Alarch 2 with a tale of a most eventful voyage. At Gavutu a severe storm was experienced which partly destroyed the wharf and caused the vessel to drift some distance. IA attempting to get aboard the third engineer, Mr Parsons, fell over the wharf and was drowned. At Aola the Ntorkoowa foudn the island suffering from the effects of a recent prolonged and severe earthquake s'hock. Between Mega and Samurai malarial fever broke our, the captain, purser, cook, and several sailors being prostrated. At Port Aloresby the chief engineer received a sunstroke, and subsequently also developed fever. Throughout the remainder of the voyage nearly every member of the crew and all the passengers were more or less overcome sailors having to take up the work of the sick trimmers and firemen. On arrival at Bribane the chief engineer and several other persons were still verv ill.