AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 80, 24 May 1911, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

MINIMUM WAGES OF WOMEN. Sydney, May 21. Cabinet has decided to make the minimum wage of women workers in the Government service, where not covered hy the Wages Board award, £llO per annum. THE PRINZ WALDEMAR. Sydney, May 24. The Prinz Waldsmar’s surgeon is ill with fever, and thfi quarantine release arrangements have been suspended. VANCOUVER ISERVICE. Melbourne, May 24. Mr. Hughes, discussing Mr. Holman’s suggestion regarding the Vancouver service, declared that it whs infinitely preferable for the Commonwealth to do those things. There were no insuperable difficulties in the way of arranging such a service as Mr. Holman desires to sec. Upon a satisfactory settlement of tho Aus-tralian-Cauadian reciprocity, a shipping scheme would follow naturally. Tho only obstacle to the ComVnonwcalth subsidising a service touching at New Zealand would then ha removed. A TEST 'CASE. Melbourne, May 24. The case of Osborne versus tho Commonwealth is one of tho most important, as effecting tho powers of tho Commonwealth Parliament, yet heard. The right of tho Legislature to enact a land tax is challenged. The main objection rests on a constitutional point. It is contended hy the nominal plaintiff that tho avowed intention of the Legislature under the Land Act was to burst up large estates. This was an invasion of the powers specifically reserved to tho States. The Constitution merely empowered tlio Federal Government to pass tax measures for revenue-raising purposes.