THE COMMONWEALTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 14

THE COMMONWEALTH.

HABITUAL CRIMINALS. Regulations under tlio Habitual Criminals Act have been framed by tho New South Wales Comptroller-General of Prisons, and duly approwd of. Ifc is quite a new departure in criminology, and authorities elsewhere are watching* the experiment with great interest. Following are the principal features of tho regulations: — The visiting officers a;iid the governor of the prison, with any other person who may at any time be appointed by (he Comptrollergeneral, arc constituted: a, Consultative Committee for the purpose of considering tho ease of each prisoner on the lines laid do™ in other parts of these regulations, of dealing with any specific matter referred to them by tho permanent head of the department, and o.f advising the Comptroller-general thereon. The prisoners will 'be dealt with under a progressive stage system by which they will practically determine their own treatment as regards the enjoyment of privileges, or the reverse. They will be gla.ssified into three grEdes—the lower, the intermediate, and the higher. The lower wilt he divided into two sub-ifrades— tlie penal : and the ordinary. Prisoners in the inl-eitniodiate and. higher grades will he competent to earn various privileges for which thoso in the lower grades will not be eligible. On completing the definite portion of tho sentence, a prisoner will bo placed in the intermediate grsde. Front this he can rise to the higher grade by industry and good conduct, and can fall to either division of tho lower grade as the result of idleness or any offenco against gpod order.

On promotion to the higher grade a. prisoner will bo eligible to receive full privileges while he earns tlio maximum marlis. When. 2000 marks haw; been earner 1 , in this grade a prisoner will be eligible to bo placed on the special list, provided, full marks have been gained for a continuous, period of nine months immediately preceding. Every prisoner will be required to perforin somo fixed task daily, suited to his capacity and physical condition. The work should bo of a productive, reformative, and educational character, and, whenever practicable and not inconsistent with disciplinary requirements, the prisoner should be employed at the trade at. wnidi he is most proficient and which will do tho most to fit hini for honest self-support when at liberty. Willi tlie consent of the Comptroller-general, prisoners of good rccord, should they so desire, will be allowed to remit a, portion ol their, earnings to' their relatives, where of reputable character, provided, excepting under special circumstances, a balance to-credit of, nt least, £5 is maintained. In January of every year tho ComptTollergeneral shall forward a, report to tho Minister in each case, giving particulars of conduct, health, prospect of reform, and any other lieccssnry details. HOME RULE. A deputation waited upon (he GovernorGeneral on Miarcli 4 at Government, House to present ah address lo his Excellency for transmission to tlie King, condemning tho action of the Commonwealth Parliament in ]»ssing rcsok-.tions ■ in favour of Home Rufc for Ireland. Mr Knox, addressing his Excellency, said that last year the deputation had present-Mi (o him, for transmission to his Majesty tho King, a. memorial containing 75,832 signatures from his Majesty's subjects, in Victoria chietly, against Ihc .action of the Federal Legislature, in passing certain resolutions in favour of (ho granting of Home Ruie to Ireland. His Excellency might remember it was then mentioned that, further signatures existed in South Australia and New South Wales, hut tlmt they were no,t at that moment available for presentation. Recently, at tho request, of tho committees in these, two States, rfc was decided to ask hi* 'Excellency to receive these additional signatures for transmission to his Majesty the King, and this deputation therefore now, on their behalf and at, their request, respectfully asked that his Excellency would receive Ibis memorial for that, purnose. The signatures to it, numbered 35,253. and altogether, with (hose already transmitted, numbering 111,785 signatures. The memorial stated: "Both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament; have passed by majority resolutions in favour of Homo Eule for Ireland, and tile House of-Repre-sentatives has gono so far as to embody its resolutions in an address to your Majesty. AVe desire to condemn in the strongest possible manner the conduct of both Houses. Tho question of Home Rule for Ireland has never been discussed at any federal or State election ill this part of the world. Wo firmly believe, and most respectfully submit, that sectarian bias or local political opportunism i« lamely- responsible for the unauthorised action of tho Federal Parliament. We deplore the unwarrantable intrusion into tlio sphere of Australian politics of this burning ouestion. which so bitterly divides the political parties of the Motherland. We earnestly protest against the resolutions .referred to, and beg to assure yora* Majesty that they are not in accordance with the views of a. vast majority of Australians." His Excellency said it, was an "honour to receive so important and representative a. deputation. The memorial would bo transmitted to his Majesty the Eng. RABBIT DESTRUCTION, Dr Danvsz returned' to Sydney on February 28 from Broughton Island. He gave an Recount of recent doings on tho island. He.remarked:—"There is not, very much new to tell. AVe are now studying the best manner t,o spread the discaso among the

rabbits. We must find the best means to make them eat it. That is most important. The experiment is not finished, but it. .is not possible for stock to get the disease on ilio island, There arc horses, cows, calves, sheep, kangaroos, and poultry; they are all well. It is quite harmless to them. It is not possible to give jt to them. I see by an Adelaide paper that a doctor.,lias been on (he island. He says lie was there. We did not see him. Perhaps he may lie frightened, but the best, manner is not. to write against the matU'r, but to come and look. We now get all the rabbits wo tied. They are sent, to mo from time to time. To prove that the virus is harmless to other sfoek we have made experiments. Wo put in a yard (two acres) morn than 200 sick rabbits, also sheep, pi»s. cows, i.idves, and horses. All _tho rabbits are dead. Tim stock were Riven some food—lucerne—and it was mixed with the virus, and the stock are very well. Wo have put dead rabbits < liroiljfh a sausage machine, and the minec was mixed with lucerne. The stock ate the lucerne, and they arc still very well. But, we will still go on. We. will give it a long trial. Wo are also experimenting with water. We will put microbes in the water. It will not grow in water, but. it, will live a. short time. .Sunlight, will kill it, but we must find the quantity that it Will take lo kill a rabbit. Theories are being put into practice, Imt the conditions on the island are different, to those on the mainland. On the island there are special conditions. We will have to go to ilio mainland whore the rabbits are. Experiments must Ih> on the mainland. We havo proved it. is not. dangerous exrept to rabbits, but We will give it a longer trial."

DOMESTIC SERVANT QUESTION. Tho first meeting of the year 111 connection with the National Council of. Women of Victoria was held 011 February 28 at the Austral Salon. At the close of the ordinary business an interesting debato was held 011 " Domestic v. Factory Employment, for Women." Mrs Sadlie'r Forster opened the debate with arguments 011 the advantages of domestic service. .She instanced the protection att'crded by a good mistress, the superior feeding and housing of domestic servants, and the friendships that frequently existed between mistress and maid. Response to these arguments was made by Miss Cuthbertson, inspector of faclories. With the one plain statement that within the last few years woman factory workers had increased in number from 11,000 lo 25.980. sho proved thai, whatever may bo the advantages of domestic service, factory work certainly scored in point of attractiveness. She argued as a positive advantage the regular hours, I lie companionship and tho supervision that existed in factories; over and above, this, the chances of an ambitious girl rising lo a position in which sho could make £4, £5, and even more, a week, made factory life socially congenial. In the prospective union of domestic servants in New Zealand the workers were asking for a 68 hours limit for the week. Factory workers are usually employed for 48,- and, even making allowance fo'r the monotony of the work done by the latter, the disparity was unreasonably large. In tho debate that followed, the belief that more general training would gradually raise the status of the house worker was voiced by several speakers. Skilled work was demanded of factory werkors, and only when domestic workers were equally litied for service would they reap the same advantages as their sisters in tho factories.

AUSTRALIAN NAVY. There is every reason to believe (says the Melbourne Age of March 2) that as'n result of tho frequent conferences between the Minister of Defence, Mr Trevisa Clarke, Mr J. Esplen, Captain Creswell, and Mr Clarkson, and the visits which the English ship-builders and tho visiting eminent naval engineer paid to the Williamstown naval denot. inqiortant progress has teen made in the direction of the early initiation of Government shipbuilding yards in Australia, and the preliminary construction in England of sample torpedo boats and destrov-ers. Ono of tho conferences between the Minister, Mr Clarke, and Mr Esplen lasted pearly three hours, and had results which, when formally announced by the Minister of Defence. will be seen lo have made the production of a complete Australian naval construction scheme a matter of only a few weeks. It will probably tie found when all that, lias taken place is fully explained that tho Government, has been enabled to take advantage of Mr Esplen's experience in such a way as to remove most- of the technical difficulties which faced. the Government a few weeks ago with regard to the carrying out of its policy. Whatever is decided, the initiation of the Australian ship-building' yards will be preceded by the construction of some of the boats in England, and it, is more than probable that tho plans and specifications will be designed by Mr Esplen. who will also advise as to the initiation of tho yards. In any case any arrangement mado_ by the Government with Mr Esplen will provide for tenders being called for the torpedo boats open to Australian engineering firms and to the whole world. IK A WORLD APART. It was left for Mr Justice G. B. Simpson, of Sydney, to inform tho public that ho and his fellow-judges havo drawn tho blinds upon their outlook- of worldly things, and

live within the shelter of their souls, wlicto ordinary hobnailed people may not tread. This information was gathered from his Honor, while a petition for divorce was rccoivinir his att-ntiou. There were phases of the case \/liich ho (nought would better have been' dealt with by"jurymen, because they had a better acquaintance with ihe _ world generally than judges, who from their' position in life were withdrawn from worldly matters, and did not understand so well as jurymen would-understand what might go on in certain posit ions in life. His Honor admitted that lie had had a good deal of knowledge of the world, but he had lost it by reason of bis solitary existence as a judge. Something by wav of proof of this was given by his Honor at U later stage. He was reviewing the evidence given by a medical witness, who had slated t hat a blow from a man's fist would not. fracture the human skull over the eye, unless, perhaps, the fist- was at, the end of Squires' arm. Who. asked the judge, was Squires? "Why,'' chorused liie bar, "Bill Squires!'' His Honor Was no ■wiser until an official of the court had whispered-into his ear. "All," said his Honor, beamingly, " [ understand that Squires is a pugilist. What? 1 '

A REMARKABLE escape. A remarkable eceno of excitement was witnessed on the, Port Melbourne platform of the Flinders street railway station on February 27, 111 which Mrs E. Baker, of (ieelong road, Footscray, and her infant, in arms narrowly escaped death—the mother from the wheels of an approaching train, and tho. infant at the hands of its n;othei\ who threw it from her in an instinctive effort, to .preserve its life. Mrs Baker, her infant iu her aims, was with a friend, Mrs Musgrove, from Castlemain, wailing 011 the edgo of the platform for the Port Melbourne train. Just as it came rushing in Mrs Baker was suddenly overcomo as if by a fit, and, reeling, she fell forward on' to tho line. As she fell she threw her infant to Mis Musgrove, who failed to catch the. child, and the little one fell heavily upon, its head 011 tho asphalt pavement and lay still. In an instant; two railway employees had jumped after Mrs ISaker, and succeeded in lifting her safely back'to the platform just an instant before the train dashed past. She Wfla unconscious, and the infant also appeared lo have. be«u seriously injured. Oonstablo Clement Bell, who was on duty close by, summoned an ambulance, and had mother and child convcycd to the Melbourne. Hospital, where Jlrs Baker was admitted for treatment. Examination showed that, the child had escaped injury of any kind, the fall, beavv as if was, having merely stunned tho infant, for a few moments.

SAD SHOOTING ACCIDENT. A sad tragcry occurred at Bona Vista (Victoria) on March 3, when Mr Malcolm K. Bardie, eon' of the Rev. Mr Hardie, Presbyterian clergyman at Richmond, met his end through being accidentally shot in the back by a youth named James Norton, 16 years of age. The deceased and Mr Jamieson, son of Dr Jamieson, of Melbourne, each had blocks of land at 'Bona Vista, and resided together on the estate. The hoy Norton' \va6 sent up by the Rov. Mr Hardie to assist his son on tho farm about a weok a.go. The hoy states that lie and deceased, after cleaning a gun, put it in tho corner of a room, and wont outside into the gardon. Mr Hardie called out, "Get the gun, quick. I see a rabbit." The lad ran inside, and then reappeared with the gun, when it went off, and shot Mr Iferdio under tho right shoulder, causing a large wound, the range being only about 3 yards. Medical aid was of no avail. When Mr Jamieson, who was absent at the -time, Iwamc acquainted "\vit.h the details, ho communicated tho news to his father, Dr Jamieson, by telephone, ami that gentleman broke the news to the Rev. Mr and Mrs Hardie. With the hope of seeing their son before lie died, they travelled by motor car. Mishaps prevented them reaching their son's bedside till after his death. An inquest was held, and a verdict of accidental death was entered.

THE WOMEN'S VOTE. At tho first monthly council meeting for the year of the Australian Women's National League, which was held at tho National Club, 'Melbourne, on 'March ♦, the organising secretary presented a report dealing with the woman vote for the last Federal elections. For the Senate- the averages were:—Victoria, 51 per cent.; Tasmania, 45 per cent.; New Soai.li "Wales, 43 percent. ; Queensland, 37 per cent.; South Australia, 28 per cent. ; Western Australia, 28 per cent. In 1903 the average in Victoria was 45 per cent., tho increase being 6 per cent. The improvement was an allround one: in 1903 tiie women's vote in five electorates fell considerably below 10 per cent.; in ISO 6, the lowest, in two electorates, was 43 per ccnt. In 1905 the number of women on tho rolls was 336.168; 1903, 310,403, tho increase being 25,765. This showed that bra-nclies had not lost sight of the most important matter of roll supervision. Taking everything into considora-' tion, the league had reason to be more than content, with its work in the anti-Socialistic interests since its formation in March, 1904. ■ METHODIST MINISTRY. The Rev. J. G. Morris Taylor, speaking at the New South Wales Methodist Conference on February 27, said it almost looked as if they were failing in one of the most vital parts of their church life—the supply of ministers. They had an unusual number of candidates offering this year, but ((till .not anything like the number they wanted. The fact- that such needs existed and were 'not supplied was a serious matter. During the year they had not had the men, and so serious had been the lack that the question of pending to England for a. supply had been gravely considered. Tho Conference resolved that the matter of tho further reinforcement of the ministerial ranks bo remitted to the executive committee for inquiry, and to'report to the ensuing conference. The action of tho ministerial conference in. negotiating with the Victorian and Tasmanian Conference to obtain additional ministers was endorsed. 'A general opinion was expressed that men" should bo drawn from Australia. It was stated that in A'ictoria- a greater number of young men were offering than were required •in that State, and it was pointed out that, candidates lor the ministry in this State were more, 'numerous than was anticipated somo months ago. ANOTHER POSEIDON NUGGET. , ; On Friday evening, March 1, Messrs Wragg Bros, found a 40oz nugget. It was " knock-off" time, and the slug was quickly brought to Tarnagulla. A peculiar incident is related in connection with the discovery of tho lost- two biff nuggets on the south end of the bill. Tho previous party who held the ground worked to within a- foot of ono of the slugs, when an ant bed put a stop to further operations. Bravo and party, who secured the ground, tackled the ants, and dug up their bed, with the resultthat they discovered two fine nuggets. In addition to the 40oz slug which Wra-gg Bros, discovered, they picked ont another small piece, and also washed it machine for 2oz. Messrs Ncwitt and Cox, of the Little Wonder claim, picked out a slug weighing 21oz. The reefs which are being worked at the- top end of the lead show satisfactory prospects lis they are being opened up.

A BURGLAR CHASED. A burglar entered the residence oE Mr J. Frccbury, of Sydney, on March 5, during the absence of the inmates, but in his movement about the house made sucli a noise' that the attention of a neighbour, Mrs Dickon, was attracted. Mrs Dickon acquainted two municipal employees, Thomas Booth and William Richardson. .Booth enteral ihe back yavil, but. apparently was observed by the burglar, who made his exit through the front door. But Richardson was waiting there, and a struggle ensued. Richardson got possession of a parcel of clothes the burglar was carrying. ' but the burglar escaped. Richardson followed him, but. suddenly found himself looking down the muzzle of a revolver produced from the burglar's packet. Richardson . acceded to the burglar's request not io follow him, and returned. The burglar then disappeared. A SOCIALIST BISHOP. The appointment of Ihe Eight Rev. J. E. * Mercer, D.D., Bishop, of Tasmania, who has been appointed first. Mcorhouse lecturer, was regarded by many of the more conservative members of the Anglican Church as a doubtful experiment, as Dr Mercer is held to be the most radical bishop on the Australian episcopal bench. In the North of England, where he served for many years as 'incumbent of various democratic parishes, lie was looked upon by the people as a champion of their rights. Since his elevation to the episcopal bench ho lias fully maintained his reputation as an advanced Liberal, with leanings towards Socialism, tempered by more ethical methods than those adopted by the aggressive Socialistic wing.