AUSTRALIAN FINANCING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3234, 8 March 1916, Page 18

AUSTRALIAN FINANCING.

MR" FISHER COMPLIMENTED. LONDON, February 29

Mr W. Campion, M.P., tendered a luncheon to Mr A. Fisher* where the latter met the managers of the Australian banks, also Sir R. Nivison and Sir Charles Tritton. the "father of the money market."

Mr Campion paid a tribute to Mr Fisher for commencing two transcontinental lines ■without borrowing a shilling in London.

Mr Jeans said that Britain was not unmindful of the great financial obligations Australia was incurring in pursuance of her determination to shoulder the burden of Empire. Mr Fisher said compulsory training in Australia had not been received unanimously, many thinking it a vile attempt to interfere with liberty, but men of foresight and grit had carried it through. He

■would not forget the financial assistance the commonwealth had received from the private banks in Australia. Bankers had furnished the specie and the Government had issued State paper. They had raised £30,000,000 thus, and he did not believe anybody in Australia -was a penny the ■worse off; the country's credit remained undisturbed.

GENERAL NEWS.

' LONDON, February 29. Lord French took his seat for the first time in the House of Lords.

In the House of Commons Mr Asquith announced that Rear-admiral Dechair would be flag officer advising the Foreign Office on blockade questions. Two German balloons broke from their moorings in Flanders and dropped into the sea. The aeronauts were taken prisoner.

In the House of Lords, during a debate on soldiers' pensions, Lord Newton said that if all the discharged men were pensioned it would now cost £21,250,000, and an extra £11,360,000 next year.

Dr Jessie Scott, of Auckland, lately on the staff of the Scottish Women's Hospital in Serbia, has arrived in London in good health. She was well treated by the Germans and Austrians. She saw nothing to suggest that the Germans and Austrians are contemplating surrender, and was greatly impressed by their efficiency and equipment. The Manchester Guardian is in possession of a copy of Die Zukunft which led to the suppression of that paper. The chief article attacked Marshal von Falkenhayn, asking why should the fate of Germany be committed to a gambler, and adding: "Von Falkenhayn is an inveterate gambler and was so heavily indebted that he was compelled to leave the army. He took a commercial position in China, but later was recalled and made rapid strides to the supreme command." MELBOURNE, March 1.

The Cabinet has decided to take a census of the public service to ascertain how many aliens are in Government employ.