AUSTRALIAN MEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 41

AUSTRALIAN MEWS.

The Profiteering Court in Sydney has increased the price of bread jd per 21b loaf. Fifteen applications were received lor tile judgeship of the Northern Territory at a salary of £2OOO a year. Owing to the outbreak of plague Lord Northcliffe lias cancelled his Queensland visit. The Maroro sailed from the Clarence River with a record cargo of 1890 telegraph poles for New Zealand. The final figures of the Diggers’ loan show that £10,045,120 was subscribed. in the New South Wales Assembly the Motherhood Endowment Bill was read a first time. The Minister declined, to answer queries respecting the means of financing tile scheme. The Commonwealth Statistician's figures record a decrease of 20 per cent, in food and groceries in New South Wales during the past year, and gradual decreases in other States. In the Queensland Assembly a Bill was introduced to prohibit cruel sport. Mr MUormack (Home Secretary) explained that pigeon shooting and coursing as at present conducted would be prohibited. Sir James Mitchell, in delivering the Budget for Western Australia, explained that the deficit had reached £636,726, the expenditure being £7,476,000. The revenue for tile ensuing year was estimated at £7.050,000. and the expenditure at £7,622.000. Cabinet has decided on a compulsory wheat pool for New South Wales. It will be managed by the same board as previously. A guarantee for the whole of the crop is not expected, but the amount on the advance will be fixed when an idea of the probable price is ascertained. In the Western Australian Legislative Council the Minister of Education introduced the Electoral Act- Amendment Bill, which permits State members to stand for the Federal elections without resigning their seats. He declared that the action of the Federal Parliament in barring State members could lie made legally effective only by the alteration of the Federal Constitution. This Bill was an assertion of State rights. The New South Wales Cabinet is preparing a Bill providing for adult suffrage in city elections, except Sydney, and for the election of the Lord Mayor by the citizens special legislation is contemplated for Sydney. ANOTHER CASE OF PLAGUE. A further case of bubonic plague is reported from Brisbane, the victim being a boy residing at Spring Hill. THE MULLIGAN DISASTER, Mr Evans (underground manager) died from the injuries which he received at Mount Mulligan mine explosion. The remaining body in connection with the Mount Mulligan tragedy was located under a fall of earth, but if will be impossible to recover it until the mine is again in working order. Considerable doubt exists regarding the identity of many of those who were interred. The Lord Mayor of Sydney has opened n ftttid for the relief of the dependents of those who lost their lives in the Mulligan disaster. MAORI TOURING PARTY. At Broken Frill Roderick Munrenis (manager) and Roberts Heaton Munroe (advance representative) of* the Maori Entertainers party, were remanded for eight days on bail on a provisional warrant chairing them with obtaining from Minerva ITeremia. at Wellington, jewellery valued at £3OO. For the defence it was stated that tiie jewellery was given to them by IJeremia for safe keeping, to be realised upon if a difficulty arose with the touring party. It is now in the possession of a solicitor at Palmerston. JAPANESE STEAMER SERVICE. Despite a lack of cargo front Australia to the United States, . the Yamishida Kaisen Kaisha, of Japan, is inaugurating a cargo steamer service between the Pacific Coast ports and Australia, calling at New Zealand on route. A start will be made next mouth with the Yishiimt Marti, and thereafter there will be monthly sailings. TURF ROMANCE. It is stated that, ,T. N. M’Gregor, .a wellknown jockey, has inherited £25.000 from the estate of the late Mr Mathew Barr, of Glasgow. The estate was left to M‘Gregor’s father, who meantime died, and M‘Gregor and his brother thereupon inherited the estate. According to M‘Gregor's own statement. he is the son of Dr D. Origor, who practised in New Zealand, but because his father disliked the turf lie changed his name to M'Grogor. RETIRING AGE FOR JUDGES. Mr Justice Lukin. sr,pairing in the Supreme Court at Rockhampton, protested against the Government’s Bill to compel judges to retiie as a repudiation of the terms of contract. Mr Justice Real apnea red at the Bar of the Queensland Assembly to protest against the Bill to compel judges to retire at the age of 70. Tie claimed that he was threatened with the deprivation of the rights upon which judges accepted appointment. This would be unfair and unjust. He said that he had sacrificed £IOO.OOO by accepting a judgeship. RETURN OF MR HUGHES Mr Hughes lias arrived at Adelaide. If.stated that the Government would consider carefully its attitude respecting inr diseontinuaiice of exit ut na lion work :r Francc. He desired to hear the view* ol ex-soldiers and parents of the fallen. Mr Hughes states that, while in Paretic nio ussed the question of a reciprocal tariff between Australia and France wifi the French. Minister, and found they won

in entire accord. A French delegate would probably be sent to Australia to strange details. Id )RD XORTIT CL IFF E’ S IM PR E&SIOXS. liOrd Northcliffe had an interview with Air Hughes. He paid a tribute to the people of New Zealand and Australia, saying that they are natural, genuine, independent, non-imitative, and sentimental. He said that he was particularly impressett by the solicitude shown for returned soldiers at the Melbourne Show and the K and vviek races. Lord Northelitfe Gated that he is leaving Australia saddened by thoughts of her weakness, "Only increased population,’’ he . said, “could save Australia for the white race. New Zealand was the richest in promise and at the same time the weakest . of all the nations. Australia should increase her population to from 15,000.000 to 20.000,C00. The question of immigration offered the greatest opportunity for statesmanship since the Federation was established.’’ SHIPBUILDING INDUS TR Y. Air A. Poynton (Minister for Home and Territories in the Federal Ministry), addressing a deputation representing ship building firms and union officials asking that more shipbuilding should be given to South Australia, warned the workers to realise what was in front of them. The position now was that ships could be pui- ' based i n England pounds per ton cheaper than they could be built in Australia, and the Federal Government could not carry on any industry at such a sacrifice.