AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17940, 20 May 1920, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

POVERTY AMONG CHILDREN. Preee Aeaooiatiou—By Telegraph— Copyright SYDNEY, May 19. Replying to a deputation of mothers who told distressing Tories of poverty, Mr M'Girr said he would stand or fall by a Bill which he was introducing in the New South Wales Parliament for the endowment of all children in excess of two in a family at the rate of 7s 6d a week each, which was estimated to cost £2,800,000 a year. JOHN NORTON'S ESTATE. SYDNEY, May 19. The Full Court commenced the hearing of an appeal by the trustees of John Norton's estate against the verdict in the case against the Union Bank to recover payments fraudulently drawn by the eecretary of the estate.

. SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT. MELBOURNE, May 19. Up to the end of March the soldiers , settlement had cost the commonwealth £8,261,673. The_ commonwealth public debt now amounts to £345,120,000. FEDERAL POLITICS. MELBOURNE, May 19. In the Federal House of Representatives Mr Willis gave notice of the introduction of a Bill to provide for an extension of the moratorium. The Oil Agreement Bill was read a third time. PREMIER AND STATE EMPLOYEES. ADELAIDE,. May 19. The Premier, in a policy speech, forecasted electoral reform in the direction of preferential voting, also increased taxation. Referring to increased wages to Government employees, tho Premier said the Government kid decided that, if the men refused to accept the wages fixed as a result of judicial inquiry, but went on strike, they would close downfall Government works. COTTON 1 GROWING. SUITABILITY OF QUEENSLAND. ' LONDON, May 18. (Received May 19, at 10.30 p.m.) Mr Theodore, Premier of Queensland, told the Australian press .that he had no doubt that Queensland would now take up the matter of cotton growing seriously. The present high prices of cotton and tho likelihood of their ruling for a considerable time justified the experiment, and made cotton picking less dependent on cheap labour than formerly. During his visit to America Mr Theodoro investigated cotton growing in California, where the conditions closely approximated those in Queensland. His investigations had convinced him that it was tolerably certain that Queensland would make cotton growing a success.—A. and N.Z. Cable. (Received May 19, at 11.25 p.m.) Mr Theodore, referring to his visit to America, said that labour conditions were most disturbed. The tendency towards higher wages and shorter hours was particularly marked, and the country was suffering owing to reactionary Labour leaders and the absence of a satisfactory method of adjudicating upon disputes, regulation conditions, and controlling collective Dargaining.— A. and N.Z. Cable.

TRAINS COLLIDE.

SEVENTEEN PERSONS INJURED

SYDNEY, May 19. (Received May 19, at 8.5 p.m.) A special race train iwd an ordinary train collided at Waterloo owing to a brake failing to act. Seventeen passengers were injured, mostly slightly. MISCELLANEOUS - ITEMS. SYDNEY, May 19. The Presbyterian Assembly decided to send a director of immigration to London, His duties will include the securing of ministers and missionaries for Australia. The New Smith Wales Government lias appointed a Board of Trade to adjudicate in the Broken Hill striko dispute, which has lasted 12 months, and involved £1,204,000 in wages. MELBOUBNE, May 19. Mr P. L. Lucas, Islands manager for the Biirns-Pliilp Shipping Line, has been appointed expert adviser on Pacific Island matters to the Federal Government. The British rifle team arrives in September.