AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3249, 21 June 1916, Page 27

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN WAR LOAN. SYDNEY, June 15. Mr Higgs, Commonwealth Treasurer, issued a circular appealing to the public—and particularly to small investors, who are offered substantia] inducements to participate—to support the new war lean. Mr Higgs says that the national expenditure in the year 1917 will amount to over £70,000.000, and most of this money must be raised by way of loan. June 19. The Commonwealth Treasurer (Mr

Higg?) is considering a scheme to allow the public to invest in the war loan on the instalment system, the payments extending over a period of 10 months.

COMMONWEALTH FORCES

MELBOURNE, June 17. Senator Pearce, replying to queries as to the ; ossibility of being able to honour the Government's promise to provide 600,000 trcops by the end of June, stated that he did not promise 500,000 men, but undertook to provide an additional 50,000 men, with reinforcements, which, calculating on the wastage at Gallipoli, would mean 286,000 men to the end of Juno. The reinforcements requirements had since been reduced, and the Government's promise had been completely fulfilled. They had sufficient men to supply the reinforcements up to the end of June, and the Government expected to be able to meet the require'ments after that date.

OPPOSITION TO COMPULSION

SYDNEY, June 19. At a meeting of the Freedom League the Socialist representatives of the Political Labour Lewgue attended. A gathering of 7000 persons unanimously carried a motion condemning conscription.

INCAPACITATED SOLDIERS

SYDNEY, June 19. The Government intends to provide homes throughout the State not only for incapacitated soldiers, but also for soldiers' widows.