AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 37

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

In the Fedaral House of Representatives the Arbitration Amendment Bill was read a second time. . , The Victorian Racing Club has informed Federal politicians that they must pay when attending races in future. It is understood that the issue of complimentary tickets was stopped in consequence of the recent increase in the salaries of Federal legislators. The Commonwealth Statistician reports that it now requires 35s 4d in the six capital cities to buy what could be bought for 20s in 1911. , , The Hon." D. S. Oman has announced that the Victorian wheat harvest is expected to total 50,000,000 bushels. The parliamentary trip to the Paeino Islands may be abandoned owing to pressure on Ministers' time; also 1o the attitude of the Labour Party, who are officially holding aloof. A motor car killed a 10-year-old boy near Koroit (Victoria). The owner of the car, on hearing of the bcy[s death, shot himself. His condition is serious. . The censure motion moved on the Government in the Tasmanian Assembly by the Leader of the Opposition was defeated by 15 votes to 13 on strictly party lines. A movement has been launched by returned soldiers to recognise the patriotic work of Mr Hughes during and after the war. . The sum of £250 was subscribed at a preliminary meeting. Fourteen hundred hotels have been closed in Victoria and their licenses cancelled since the introduction of the Licenses Reduction Board in 1907, involving the payment of £681,000 in compensation. The Victorian Government was defeated on a clause in the Public Service Act which the Premier announced as vital. The voting was 21 to 13. The Government will reintroduce the clause on Tuesday. Some _ 14 Ministerialists were absent on the occasion of. the Government defeat. Dr Madsoii has been appointed to the Chair of Electrical Engineering, and Dr Lovell to the position of Associate Professor of Psychology, at Sydney University. These two chairs were recently created, and both appointees are. local men. The psychology appointment is the first of its kind in Australia. Further railway and tramway increases in New South Wales are foreshadowed. The Financial Statement for the past year shows that the earnings of the railways totalled £13,000,000, and tramways £2,800,000. The expenses totalled respectively £9,500,000 and £2,400.000. Tho total credit is £3,900,000, the interest charges. £4,000,000, and the deficit £137,574. ■ The annual report of the Amalgamated Wireless, Australasia, Ltd., states that the Federal Government is considering the company's proposal for a direct commercial wireless service between Australia and Poland. The report adds that the company daily receives messages direct from England, France, Germany, America, Japan, and Hawaii, thus proving the possibilities of a direct service to all parts of the world. In the ' House of Representatives Sir Joseph Cook introduced, a Bill providing for the acceptance of the mandate over the Pacific territories. Mr Cunningham moved an amendment providing that the proposed government be in accordance with the White Australia policy. Sir Joseph Cook explained that the amendment could be moved at a later stage, but Labour insisted on a division, -and the amendment was defeated by 32 votes to 23. The New South Wales Inspector-General of Police, presenting his annual report, states that there has been a phenomenal increase -in serious crime since the termination of the war. accentuated by the shortage of police. There is a marked tendency among all classes to carry firearms, and it is apparent that legislation to restrict such is,urgently required. QUEENSLAND POLITICS. The lieutenant-Governor's Speech, in opening the Queensland Parliament, emphasised that the Government proposed legislation in the direction of the endowment of children, and made biting reference to the delegation"'which recently visited London, statincr that it appeared to the Ministry that financiers abroad at the behest of three unofficial delegates had informed the Government that loan money would be supplied if the Govei-nment agreed to repeal certain legislation which had been endorsed by the electors at two elections. The Ministry scorned this bribe and refused the infamous proposal, that the electors would agree with it. With the object- of testing tho question the Ministry had decided to postpone all legislation with the exception of amending the Liquor Bill, and it would then adjourn Parliament until the Premier's return. It would then appeal to the people for endorsement of its attitude. Mr Lennon has been elected President of the Legislative Council. MASQUERADING AS A MAN. Tho Eugenie Falleni case, in which the accused Falleni, who masqueraded as a man, is charged with the murder of Mrs Burkett, with whom she went through the form_ of marriage in 1917, is proceeding. Medical evidence was given to the effect that before Mrs Burkett's body was placed in the fire the indications showed that the head had been smashed. Mrs Burkett's son gave evidence, stating that Falleni took him to the South Head shortly after his mother's death. Also that she twice took him to the bush at nighttime, and dug deep holes,

the implication being that in the first instance she intended to throw him over the rocks, while at other times she meant to kill and bury him in the grave he himself had helped 'to dig-. Eugenie Falleni has been committed for trial on a charge of murder. INFLUENZA CLAIMS. The commissioner who was appointed to inquire into the influenza claims has reduced the amounts from £IIB,OOO to £15,000. The influenza claims report disoloses that some claimants took a wide "view of the meaning of compensation. In some instances the claims are referred to as attempts to improperly secure Government money. One man sought to refund wages where the business was not closed, another claimed for the repairing of dilapidated premises, and a third claimed rent for selfowned premises. In the case of publican's claims it was found that numbers did better business during the epidemic with front doors closed than when. open. The claims on behalf of Roman Catholic schools for fees and salaries were reduced from £21,850 to £4140, on the ground that teachers in such schools received no salaries and that no allowances were made for fees. A STRANGE POSITION. The New South Wales Cabinet has adopted .the Chief Electoral Officer's report stating he is unable to conduct a by-elec-tion caused by the resignation of Mr Beohy (recently appointed to the Arbitration Court) owing to the fact that no machinery was provided in the new electoral law for a by-election. The Speaker's writ is consequently useless. Speculation is rife as to the next steps to be taekn. Some quarters are urging the Government immediately to pass amending regulations.