AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 28

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Five of the Commonwealth wooden ships have been sold to American buyers. A further batch of 93 Germans has been deported from Sydney. A fire destroyed Messrs Davy and Co.'s boot, factory in Brisbane. The damage is in the vicinity _ of £50,000. The sugar mills in the Cairns district of Queensland have closed down owing to a shortage of bags. The National Art Gallery, Sydney, has purchased Mr Will Ashton's painting of the warship New Zealand for 60gs. The coroner of Broken Hill, at the inquest on the South Broken Hill Mine firo on July 30, found that the outbreak was due to incendiarism. Tho management offer a reward of £2OOO for information that will lead to the conviction of ._ie persons who caused the fire. ( A deputation of civil servants presented to the New South Wales Attorney-general a resolution urging the Government to in-

crease • their salaries by £SO per annum, also to grant a cash bonus, to meet the higher cost of living. The report of the Advisory Committee of experts on the defence system advocates three months' compulsory military training every year for the citizen forces, and the immediate establishment of an Australian air service. The report also urges the development of the activities of tho arsenal department to enable Australia to undertake tho manufacture of all essential munitions of war. A peace loan campaign was launched with spectacular oercmony to-day. A white temple of peace was erected in Moore street, and from this an appeal was made. Two thousand pigeons were released, bearing messages to all parts of the State. A great advertising campaign is running in conjunction with the loan. The Council of the Farmers' Federal organisation adopted a platform which includes this extension of the Commonwealth Shipping Line by the inclusion of large, fast steamers and the encouragement of all forms of co-operative enterprise. It was resolved tho- each State should run producer candidates for both the House of Representatives and Senate the next Federal elections. A LIBEL ACTION. The jury disagreed, and was discharged, in the libel case, in which Mr Ryan, Premier, of Queensland, claimed .damages amounting to £IO,OOO from the Melbourne Argus. The High Court refused an application for a verdict in favour of the Argus, and granted Mr Ryan a new trial. LEADERS RETURN. Mr W. M. Hughes and Sir Joseph Cook arrived at Fremantle on the 24th. They had an enthusiastic welcome. Some returned soldiers dragged their motor car to the Town Hall, Mr Hughes wearing a soldiers' hat, his own having been- removed . Mr Hughes addressed a great gathering at the Town Hall. He sternly warned the public against any attempts in the way of Bolshevism. If any party attempted to usurp power by unconstitutional means, then by horse, foot, and military he would oppose them. Short of murder or marrying more than one wife at a time, every returned soldier could count on him looking after their rights. LORD JELLIOOE'S REPORT. It is understood that Lord Jollicoe's findings are big and definite. It is practically certain that he recommends more and bigger naval bases than at present ■Sjrist here. It is also believed that he urges the necessity of Australia having at least one first-class battleship. Amidst other questions discussed would be that of the naval organisation, under which it is hoped to link Australia with New Zealand, Canada, India, and perhaps South Africa, in a comprehensive scheme for the defence of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. THE WHEAT POOL. In the New South Wales Assembly the Minister of Agriculture put up a strong defence over matters arising out of the recent Commission of Inquiry into the Georgeson wheat purchase contract and the subsequent comments thereon. Adverse comments on the operations of the wheat pool and its alleged wasteful methods led to the production of muh official matter to prove that the pool acted in the interests of farmers and made the best of the position, which was rendered very difficult by the war conditions. They also show that Pratten's estimated loss of 30,000,000 bushels was largely over-estimated. Pratten's statement resulted in a heavv slump in wheat script, estimated at £1,500.000. In the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Mr Mearne gave notice of motion that all losses in connection with the jjoolins; of wheat be nationalised. In the Federal Senate Mr Pratten stated that there had been a net loss of 30,000,000 bushels of wheat in connection with the storage and shipping of the four pools—i.e., tho pools of the four harvests. * NEW SOUTH WALES RAILWAYS. The annual report of the railwavs shows a deficit for the year of £193,369. The loss due to the effect of the influenza epidemic on the rail and tram services is estimated at £760,000. The report shows increases in the wages sheet during the year of £81,554- as the result of various industrial awards. The Chief Commissioner, in reviewing the position of the railway, states that on tho top of the increased expenditure there was a decreasing production. Since 1914 the tonnage handled on the' railways had gone backwards. The population had increased, but production per head had fallen. A POLICY SPEECH. Mr John Storey deb'vered a policy speech at Mudgee, New South Wales. He stated that Labour's objective was the same today as when Mr Holman was leader. Mr Storey proposed to extend educational facilities to rural districts, and reform the university so as to provide for democratic control of free higher education. He said health activities should be nationalised and a Ministry of Motherhood be established. He also proposed to nationalise the mines, and. where necessary in the public interest, to prevent monopolies of coastal steamship and ferry services and banks.