AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 81, 17 November 1911, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

HUGE RISE IN RENTS. 'By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) (Received 17, 9.35 a.m.) Sydney, November 17. At the sitting of the Rent Inquiry Commission the Marrickvillc Council Clerk declared that the rent of some houses had increased a hundred per rent in a few years. During the same period the rates had been augmented by only two per cunt. Other witnesses’ considered the remedy lay in Government assistance to build.

A QUALIFIED AVIATOR. (Received 17, 9.35 a.m.) Melbourne, November 17. Hart qualified for the Aerial League’s pilot certificate after tiny completion of a severe test. He is the first to qualify in Australia.

DIXON’S RELEASE. (Received 17, 9.35 a.m.) Melbourne, November 17. Mr Holman justified, the release of Dixon on the ground that ho might have been prejudiced in bis preparation for Ills subsequent trial at Bathurst. The decision not to proceed with the second trial at Bathurst niter the iurv disagreed was made by the Solicitor-General on the recommendation of the senior Crown Prosecutor.

CROP PROSPECTS. (Received 17, 9.35 a.m.) Melbourne, November 17. Harvesting reports indicate early mops, yielding better than recently anticipated, but many failures in late •rons in most districts.

FANNING ISLAND. (Received 17, 10.20 a.m.) Sydney, November 17. Mr Millward, manager of the Pacific Cable Board, referring to the cable report of a British-Canadian syndicate’s purchase of Fanning and Washington Islands explains that this evidently means that the syndicate acquired estates co-extonsivc with the area of the islands, hut that cannot he the case at Fanning Island, where the Pacific Cable Board secured a plot for a landing station vested in them for fifty years. Such an acquisition would iiot alter the nationality of the islands. Therefore lie fails to see the international significanee. FERRY BOA’!’ COLLISION. Sydney, November 16. Captain Balfour, master of the steamer Derwent, was found responsible for the collision of the ferry boat Kin Kia. He was ordered to show cause.

A VACANT SPEAKERSHIP. Adelaide, November 16. In the Assembly, the Premier, at the request of the family of Sir Penkin Coles, the Speaker, owing to his continued ill-health, moved to declare the Speakership vacant.

ARBITRATION BILL. Melbourne, November 16. In the Senate the Arbitration Bill was put through committee and reported . HOSKINS’ IRON FOUNDRY. SQUABBLE OVER THE REPORT. ■ (Received 17, 9.65 a.m.) Sydney, November 17. Since the presentation of Mr. Paul’s report on Hoskins’ iron foundry, members of the Opposition have repeatedly attacked it. Mr. Holman, in the Assembly, stated that it was incomprehensible to him that they should so exercise themselves in an attempt to show that the enquiry was not intended to throw light on the manner in which the Government’s requirements wore being supplied. He created disorder by asking what interest Opposition members bad in the matter.

THE STATE BANK. (Received 17, 9.35 a.m.) Sydney, November 17. In reply to Mr. 'Fisher’s,suggestion that ultimately there would lie only one savings bank in Australia, Mr. McGowou declared that State banks would go on whatever happened. SITE FOR NAVAL COLLEGE. (Received 17, 9.35 a.m.) Melbourne, November 17. Mr. Fisher announced that -Jervis Bay had been definitely selected as the site for the naval college.