AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 19517, 17 May 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(By Telegraph—-Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). SYDNEY, May 16. Repljdng to criticism of the Government over tile industrial position, Sir George Fuller explained that the Government had been in. office only a month and was unable to relieve unemployment by simply issuing a minute on the problem. He was communicating with the Broken Hill Proprietary with the object of the steelworks resuming at Newcastle, and other relief works were under consideration. It is anticipated that one of the first measures to be considered at the next session of the Assembly will be the abolition of the 44-hours’ week. Bir Thomas Henley, Minister of Works, returning from a visit to the State metal quarries, said that Saturday had been converted into a day of idleness or much worse. Nobody had asked for it and nobody benefited by it, the result being idle machinery, reduced output s dearer metal and bad roads. (Received May 7.15 pm.) The ‘Clean the City campaign,” with the object of making a general clean-up of all dwellings and business premises and sweeping away anything in the shape of harbourage for rats, is now in full swing. Members of 28 city block associations, in conjunction with the officials of the City Council and the Health Department, are making an exhaustive inspection, with the result that the destructors are likely to be kept busy destroying refuse, and rats will have Ea uneasy time. The suburban Councils in a similar way are stirring up the ratepayers and rat nests. Under the new Government’s land policy and settlement development scheme, owners of private estates capable of providing increased settlement, are asked to voluntarily submit proposals for subdivision and closer settlement. In the event of the Government failing to receive a satisfactory response compulsory action is contemplated. A report presented to the Australian Congregational Assembly showed that the number of churches and preaching places in Australia and New Zealand had increased from 395 in 1910, to 479 in the present year. The membership had grown from 19,521 in 1919, to 21,654, and Sunday school scholars from 30,494 to 31,993.