AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 30

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

CREATING NEW STATES. SYDNEY, June 7. A convention has opened at Armiduio in connection with the movement for the creation of New States. Dr Earle Page (Federal Treasurer), in a speech favouring the movement, declared that it was the only practical solution of the evils of centralisation of industry, population, and wealth in two or three capital cities, and to stop stagnation, retrogressing of population, and development in the country. The Prime Minister (Mr Bruce) sent a similar message advocating that the new areas should be allowed to work out their own salvation. The New .States Convention decided to ask tho State Parliament to appoint a commission to report upon the creation of a new State comprising the northern portion of New South Wales. June 8. The New. States Convention concluded after adopting a platform and making arrangements for pushing forward the movement. AUSTRALIA’S LEADING PROBLEM. Mr Bruce, speaking at Dialby, said iie believed that the London Economic Conference would lay the foundation of a scheme which would make the British Empire greater, and which would give greater prosperity. “Australia's leading problem,” said Mr Bru.ee, “is to make sure that Australia is to remain ours and to provide for our own defence. There is only one way to do that—by a well-considered plan of Imperial naval defence.” The Prime Minister said he believed that some day the League of Nations would be able to assure tlie peace of the world, but to-day it could not. FATAL GAS EXPLOSION. SYDNEY, June 4. While William Sole, a circus proprietor, and Charles Perry, tho former owner of the circus, were hastily adjusting an acetylene gas plant at Blayney prior to the circus opening, a leakage ot gas was detected. The pipe was wound with tape, and one of the men struck a match to test the leak. A terrific explosion followed, and both were thrown on their backs and killed instantly. Perry’s skull was smashed with a flying bit of iron. THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. BRISBANE, June 6. The Prime Minister (Mr Bruce), in a speech, announced that the Commonwealth Government would continue its embargo on black-gro-wn sugar for a further period of two years, subject to the industry forming a.pool free from the Federal Government s control, and buying the raw sugar at not more than £27 per ton, the pool to provide sugar for the purpose qf manufacturing goods for export at ap rice equal to the current world’s parity, the price for S3W sugar for 1924-25 to be determined after investigation by a tribunal, but not to exceed £27 per ton. After June, 1925, the industry will be protected against unfair competition by means of a Customs duty in the same way as the other industries m the commonwealth. These proposals would involve a reduction in the retail price of Id per lb. Early in October the sugar for the home trade will be reduced by at least £5 per ton, and for export it will be sold at the actual world’s parity in such manner that manufacturers shall not be at. a disadvantage by not having freedom to import.

QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE. , . BRISBANE, June 6. ihe King s Birthday levee revived heartburning over the question of precedence to religious dignitaries. The heads of the Protestant Churches absented themselves the Roman Catholic Archbishop and the Jewish Rabbi only Attending. Jk previous meeting of the Church Federation expressed Lie opinion that the Anglican, and not the Roman Catholic, Archbishop should have preference. The Governor (Sir Matthew Nathan) explained that the length of oecupanon of the bishopric determines precedence and he stales that he acted on the prececieiit set by a previous Governor. LEGISLATION DEMANDED. . SYDNEY. .Tune 6. A correspondent writes to the Daily Telegraph describing his wanderings through many Sydney suburban streets in an effort to secure rooms for himself and his wife and child. In almost every case the answer was: “We won’t have children.” He protests against the unfair and heart-breaking experience of being continually refused a house because of the possession of a child, and he demands laws to cope with this child discrimination, adding: “It is really a menace to our national wellbeing, and undoubtedly it has a serious effect upon the birth rate.” RAIN IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, June 4. Rain is reported over a large area in the State during the weed-end. The Western districts particularly are participating. It is stated that the rain is spreading eastward from Central Australia, where heavy falls are reported. Since midnight there has been a heavy downpour in the city, with a likelihood of its continuance. June 5. Widespread rain is reported, embracing the Eastern half cf Australia, from Port Darwin in the north to Eucla (near the boundary of South and Weft Australia) in the south. Splendid rains continue over the greater part of the State, and a further fall is expected. A heavy blizzard with deep snow in the mountain country at the head of the Murray River caused serious losses of cattle. A mob of 1000 was being brought out, when the drevers missed their way in a, fog and lost half of the rattle, hundreds falling over a cliff and being killed. . June 7. Practically the whole of tho State reported additional rain yesterday. A big increase in tho wheat area to be sown is expected in consequence. PACIFIC ISLANDS TRADE. SYDNEY, June 8. The Sydney Morning Herald, dealing with tlie decrease in trade between Aus

tralia and the Pacific Islands, publishes iigures showing that in 1920 the imports °f Austral an goods to Samoa totalleil £187,000, to Tonga £150,000, and to Fiji £556,000. In 1922 these totals tell respectively to £105.000, £40,00-0. and £422,090. The trade with the oilier islands similarly decreased. The Herald strongly urges the need of efforts to stop tiiis trade drift. BRAVERY RECOGNISED. SYDNEY*, June 7. The Governor-General (Lord Foister) on behalf ot the United States Government, presented Captain Freakes, of the cruiser Melbourne,' with a pair of binoculars and seven seamen with a gold medal each m recognition of their heroic services i.i rescuing the crew of the s liooner Helen B. Sterling on January 25, 1522. A gold watch and chain, which the President of the United Stales desired to present to the lale Rear-admiral Dumaresque in connection with the same event, was handed to ins relatives. PROPOSED LIQUOR REFERENDUM. SYDNEY*, June 9. Mr T. J. Ley, Minister of Justice, informed a deputation from the Citizens’ Rights and Liquor Reform Association that, a referendum will bo taken on the liquor question. It will not be conducted under tlie 1813 legislation, but under new legislation, to be decided by a non-party vote, which will Le introduced to Parliament. PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE, MELBOURNE, June 10. The Premiers’ Conference has been resumed. Tasmania is not represented. All Ihe other Slates excejit New South Wides approved of the Commonwealth taxation ptoposals, but Mr Cocks determinedly refused to accept the proposals, which, he declared, would increase the taxation burdens on the middle and poorer classes of New South Wales. MISCELLANEOUS. Floods have occurred throughout Tas mania, causing devastation among sheep, roads, bridges, and railways. Title timber mills at llurstville. New South Wales, owned by Walters, Middleton, and Eades, were destroyed by tire. The damage is estimated at £iO,OCO. At the Queensland Diocesan Synod, Carton Dewitt Batty’s motion in favoured breaking off the nexus with the mother church in England was defeated by 151 votes to 88. Dr Earle Page (Treasurer) has announced that the Government has decided to extend the date for closing the conversion loan until June 14. A message from Darwin states that during a cruise in the Gulf of Carpentaria 11.M.5. Geranium noticed evidences of a tidal wave. This is believed to have caused tile loss of the Douglas Mawson. * It i,s understood that the death of Sir Denison Miller will expedite the Government’s action in placing the Commonwealth Bank under a board of control instead of under a governor. Mr Bruce, Prime Minister, announced that the Federal session would terminate on August 24. as he was not prepared to leave Australia knowing that something might happen in Parliament which might prevent him speaking for Australia in England.

The trotting horses Charlock and Sadowa Lad, while exercising in a street in Newcastle, stepped on a live wire, and were electrocuted. Their owner, Mr A. G. Edwards, was thrown violently to the ground, and narrowly escaped death. The statement is confirmed that the opening of the Federal Parliament will take place this week. fl he Government's policy will include a reduction in the postal charges, to apply to all articles, including letters, packages, parcels, and newspapers. It is intended that the letter postage will be reduced to lid. The Federal Postmaster-General has intimated that regulations will be issued shortly governing wireless broadcasting and conserving the rights of newspaper proprietors concerning news published from day to day. He contended that proprietors going to the expense of maintaining a staff for news-gathering had a moral right to the news, even after its publication. The jury found in favour of Dr Annie Cooper in the case in which £2500 damages and £935 as expenses were claimed, for alleged negligence and unskilfulness during an operation which was performed at Muter Misericordia Hospital in 1918. by allowing to remain in the abdomen a pair (or portion of a pair) of forceps.