AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 87, 7 December 1912, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Melbourne, December G. In the Senate Mr. MoDougall moved, as a matter of national policy, that an Australian citizen army should be entirely composed of Australians and led by officers raised from the ranks, but allowing for the engagement of an Imperial officer as Inspector-General. He declared that imported English officers had a whole-hearted contempt of Australian officers. Every imported officer meant that an Australian lost a chance of promotion. Mr. Pearce said that he was not opposed to the motion, because it expressed wlxat was being carried out. He explained that imported officers u'ere exchanges. He had been told that immense benefit was derived from exchanges. The debate was adjourned.

THE Sl/OAR INDUSTRY. Brisbane, December 6. < The Premier, in reply to Mr. Fisher, said: The people of Australia desire the sugar industry to he a white labour one, and gladly support any arrangement to secure a realisation of that policy. In order to pay whites the highest wages consistent with the prosperity of the industry, ho promised to enlarge the Industrial Bill to include sugar workers. Commenting on the position in Queensland, he said that they could easily raise the sugar required in Australia. “Under our artificial conditions,” he said, “the supply would immediately reach the limit of Commonwealth consumption. Realising the conditions under which the cane must be grown and the importance of settling the North-East Coast of Australia, any secrifico required would bring ample justification and reward.”