AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15823, 23 July 1913, Page 6

AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

(Fbom Odu Own Comiespondexx.) SYDNEY, July 12. Wo have in Australia, quite a number of people who are reso.utely enthusiastic in tho matter of spelling rciorm. Victoria is the chief centre of activity in this respcct, and the cause of spelling reform in that State is helped considerably by the tact that the Director of Education is a believer in it. Tho governing body of the highest educational institution iu Victoria—tho Uniyereity—includes ardent advocates of reform in the matter of the written pre-

sentment of the English language. It includes a.so learned gentlemen who fear that changes in spoiling may destroy the historic associations of words. Anyhow, the advocates of a simplified form of English spelling on the University Council, and they are gentlemen of considerable weight, have been ablo to bring matters to such a stage that tho council's endorsement of the spelling reform movement is now under serious consideration. MAMMOTH STEAMER. A notable shipping event this week has been the arrival of the largest steamer that ever entered Sydney Harbour—namely, tho glue Funnel liner Nestor, of 14,250 tons register. This mammoth merchantman, which registers 750 tons more than the Niagara, -has been safely berthed at one of the wharves of Darling Harbour, where the depth of water is easily equal to the draught of even so great a ship. Siie was thrown open for the inspection of the curious on Sunday, and thousands of visitors crowded aboard to take advantage of the opportunity to look over her huge proportions and talk about the capacity of Port Jackson for the accommodation of large ocean-going vessels.

INTERNATIONAL LAWN TENNIS. New Zealand is recognised as the home of many skilful devotees of lawn tennis. A visitor to the dominion is agreeably struck by the extent to which the game is practised there. It will consequently be of' interest to New Zealanders to learn that following upon the visit of the British Isles team, which left the Davis Cup in Australasia, there is an excellent prospect of a visit to these latitudes by a team of crack players from the Continent. Inquiries made for some months past on behalf of the Australasian Lawn lennis Association have resulted in the receipt of a cablegram to the effect that while France cannot sond a team to Australasia in the near future a strong German side will probably be available for a tour. Tho association has in consequence decided to send a formal invitation for a team representing Germany to tour Australia, and it is taken for granted that this invitation will be followed by an enlargement of the invitation, so that the Continental visitors will play in New Zealand, too, under official auspices. It is eaid to be almost certain that the invitation will bo accepted. Lovers of tennis on this side are 'already canvassing the prospccts of a renewal of Australasian laurels in well-fought games with European champions.

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS. A resident of Sydney has received £400 as'reward for having supplied information which led to the Postal Department recovermg nearly £6000 from a linn of contractor, and has incidentally led to a pretty overhauling of departmental accounts.'*. The gentleman referred to, a iVir Lesley, as far back as September, 1911, wrote to the Post-master-general that the department had overpam to a cert-a.n 'firm of contractors for the supply of material to the department sums amounting to close upon fbOOO, and that if it was made worth his while he would supply particulars which would enable the department to get this money back. Investigations were made left and right, but the officials put to this task reported that t-hev could find noth.ng to indicate overpayments to anybody. There were further communications with Mr Lesley, who explained that the overpayments nad taken place in connection with a readjustment of tariff items and Customs duty actually paid at tile times of delivery of material to the department, as compared with higher duty payable at the time of the acceptance of the tenders. It 6eems that material was to be paid for at prices specified plus Customs duty. There followed an elaborate overhaul of departmental accounts, but the result was again negative. Then tiie contractors were persuaded to allow an official examination of their accounts, and it was ascertained that £5983 was due by tne Contractors to the Postal Department, being the difference between the amount of duty paid for and the amount payable under the new tariff. A cheque for thes amount- has now been paid over. This happening has given the impression that- existing methods of keeping the accounts, 6f public departments are unsatisfactosily loose, or that there is too much room for expensive oversights.

STAMP-SELLING MACHINES. Our new Postmaster-general (Mr Wynne) has not exhausted his stock of initiative by decreeing the abolition of the ugly postage stamp, whereon a forelom kangaroo appeared to be contemplating suicide ill a desert waste, but could discern 1 no means other than solitary death by starvation. Mr Wynne has announced that he intends to give a thorough trial to automatic machines for the sale of .postage stamps in public places. There arc several such machines on the inventors' market. After consultation Mr Wynne lias picked upon two as deserving a first trial. Ono is built up somewhat in the form of the automatic weighing or chocolate-soiling machines. It will stand exposure to outdoor weather. The other is a smaller affair, and is designed for attachment to walls and pillars 111 sheltered places. A consignment of the automatic stamp-sellers has already reached Sydney, and the machines are to be set up without delay. If they work at all smoothly they will be welcomed as a great blessing. Even a person who knows Sydney pretty well is frequently at his wits' end to know'where he can get a postage stamp for a letter that must be posted after sundown.

APOSTLE OF SIMPLE LIFE. Chidley, the man who lias been parading the streets of Sydney clad only in a bathing suit and who is the apostte of a new form of the simple life, was charged before the Polico Court the other day with offensive behaviour. A medical witness said that the accused was wearing a dress that was an improper one to movo about in amongst the community. The ideas promulgated by Chidley were highly improper. The apostle in his own defence gave a Ion'" discourse from the witness box on the principles that he claimed to have discovered. After hearing this the magistrate found Chidley had . been guilty 'of offensive behaviour. Ho was bound over in two sureties of £10 each to bo of good behaviour for the next 12 months, and ho was sentenced to an imprisonment of 14 days 011 the chargo of begging alms. FARMERS IN POLITICS.

After two days of full and frank discussion the annual conference of that strong organisation of primary 'producers, the Farmers and Settlers! Association of New South Waies, has declared in favour of a straight out party of-.its own in the State legislature. '.L-nis determination i 6 particularly interesting in view of the almost even balance of partv numbers in the present Legislative Assembly, and the nearness of the State parliamentary elections. On the fax;e of it this decision looks 'more like a division of the Liberal forces than anything else, and there is scarcely rejoicing in Labour circles over it. On the other hand the leaders of the Liberal party are urging that it is a great mistake to suppose that good can como to the man on the land through a threatened detachment of what is essentially a section of the party whic-li upholds Liberalism in 'opposition to the Labour party. It was made plain that the members of the Farmers and Settlers' Association believe they, have reason to complain of both the Liberal and Labour parties, and that while they might be expected to be associated with the Liberal party they will not be content with representation in associations which tend to put into Parliament, professional city politicians as members for'rural interests. '• We have plie policy, we have the money, and we have' the men" is how one delegate expressed what appeared to bo a pretty general sentiment in the oonferenoe, To this were added illustrations of how the solid vote of farmers and other rural men haxl gone / a long way towards determining die personnel of the newly electcd Federal House of Representatives. A REDUCED OUTPUT.

There is no need to report in these notes what tho Federal Parliament is doing-or, rather, the fact that for a while at any rate it will do nothing. But there is occasion to record that a few words uttered by the Prime Minister • (Mr Cook) in Sydney on the eve of the opening of tho Parliament are still being cordially applauded. In addressing a meeting of pastoralists, Mr Cook said:. "The best thing we can do for you is to leave you alone." This i 6 being interpreted as not only an intimation of the intention to refrain from worrying pastoralists with fresh laws, but as indicating that the constitution of the new House of Representatives, with 38 men on one side and 37 on tho other, makes necessary a, reduction in the general legislative output. Outside of purely party considerations the press and j»uUic men have been. Mid are. insisting

that Australia ig getting'top much legislation, and that it is absurd that, in a com- t parativelv poorly-peopled place like Australia,, it should be thought necessary to have seven Parliaments hard at work day and night for about half of tho year in the turning out of new laws. One of the Sydney journals suggested the other day that it would be a good thing for tho country to adopt for several years a method of payment of members whereby legislators would bo rewarded according to the measure in which they restrain the desire to make speeches and_ more lam If tho anti-over-legialation agitation becomes muoh stronger wo may 6ee candidates for Parliament trying to secure election by solemnly pledging themselves to abstain from legislation excepting in relation to a very few clearlyspecified matters.

\ OIL FUEL Australia's initial ventures in the matter of the production of oil fuel have not been very promising. High expectations were formed when two concerns began work on the shale deposits in the northern and western coastal regions of this State. On three occasions tlie annual production of oil shale in New South Wales has teen valued at over £100,000. But labour conditions and financial difficulties have, for the time being, at any rate, proved insuperable obstacles, and now practically aJI the oil >works in this State have been £hut down. There were big works on tho northwest coast of Tasmania, but the cost of production leit no profit when marketed, and the works were closed down. In Queensland the Roma works- have proved a disappointment. There is no doubt about our )x>ssession of sources, largo and rich, of tho most up-to-date fuel, but the problem of economic working has yet to bo 6olved. Oil fuel is, as everyone knows, the coming fuel. The march of. the motor has only begun. The world's navies want oil fuel, and plenty of it. Since it is an Australian ambition to bo self-contained in modern requirements in defence, as well as industrial matters, tho experiences up to the present in tho way of iocal production of oil fuel are very disappointing. It is being, represented to attentive Ministers that this matter has a very important national bearing, and that the development of oil fuel resources on the Australian mainland, as well as in Papua, where there are bright prospccts, has an Imperial as well as an Australian aspect. It is urged: that the occasion is one on which even the strongest aversion on general grounds to " 6poon feeding" should not stand in the way. generous aid. The Federal Government promises that it is prepared to do whatever is required by circumstances, with due recognition of the need for securing constant supplies of oil fuel for the-ships of tho new Australian navy.