AUSTRALIAN LETTERS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1929, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN LETTERS

INDUSTRIAL STRUGGLE

AUSTRALIAN LOANS.

BROWN BORONIA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Sydney, Aug. 23.

Spring is coining; the boronia is in bloom. One cannot walk half a block of Melbourne's streets without hearing the cry of the flower-seller, “Boronia — sixpence a spray.” The city is bewitched. The perfume of the demure brown flower floats in the breeze down alleys and up broad thoroughfares. Its scent drifts in tea shops and through the vast, echoing corridors of the tallest buildings. It> competes with the aroma of coffee in the restaurant. It is sweeter than the perfume of the violet and mignonette which are crushed against it in the flower vendor’s basket. It is more captivating than the smell of oranges which comes from the fruit barrow. It enslaves a million people by its subtle charm. Everybody exchanges their six pennies for half a dozen brown and gold cups. The lady in sables discards her orchids. The office girl pins a tiny bunch on her new spring coat. Men, who have not worn flowers since their wedding day, slyly place a sprig in their buttonholes. The staid, old fifty-fivers take a bunch home to their wives. AH are buying six pennyworth of spring time. “Melbourne i boronia —sixpence a bunch.” THE ANGORA. There is diversion of opinion among the graziers to the development of the Angora fur industry. The opposition has a psychological basis. The sheep has reigned so long as the secret of Australia’s greatness and glory that there is a natural resistance to the introduction of any animal that might challenge the royalty of the merino. Enthusiasm for tile Angora rabbit, or hare,' i</ felt, subconsciously, to be a kind of high treason. The supposition that the Angora may become a pest seems unreasonable and Government regulations for its control are very rigorous. It may have some of the habits of rabbits, but it has to be kept in hutches and fed and tended like a “star boarder.” There is a lot to be said in its favour as a profitable business for the man with little capital and an acre or so of poor land. And his womenfolk can easily do most of the work. NEW GUINEA GOLDFIELDS. The investing public will listen very intently to anyone that has New Guinea gold company shares to sell. Cheque books are quickly produced and down goes the signature on the dotted line with a readiness that astonishes the salesman. The Australian loves a flutter in gold. It is in the blood. It is said that were the field in Australia there would now be 6000 or more men at work on it. Such is the estimate of its extent and permanency. It has been stated on good authority that the New Guinea field yanks with the Western Australia mines and that the reaping for investors will be highly satisfactory. Large scale operations have been organised from London but the field is too big for one company to develop. There is plenty of room for Australian capital, and, judging by the number of recent flotations, it is. pouring, in without stint. AUSTRALIAN GAS LIGHT CO. In spite of the fierce competition of electricity, and although the business has been severely tested by coal mining troubles,' - , the demand for gas in Syclney continues to hold its own. The total sales of gas during the past year amounted to 6,961,290,000 cubic feet, an increase of 107,417,000 over the previous year. The increase was only 1.56 per cent., whereas the increase in the number of consumers was 5.9 per cent. New consumers were 13,713, making the total of 245,733. Revenue from sales of coke fell away by £15,500, and is attributable partly to the curtailment of ferry services by the Sydney Ferries, Ltd., and partly to the depressed state of trade. Owing to the stoppage of supplies of coal the past year ha« been one of the most strenuous and difficult in the history of tlie company. The company is one’ of the largest users of Maitland coal, and therefore is one of the greatest sufferers. Its plant is designed to use Maitland coal and a reserve of plant is provided on that basis. Reserve .stocks of 80,000 tons, sufficient for 10 weeks, were in hand at the commencement of the present coal trouble. But a stoppage of supplies lasting 28 weeks was not anticipated, and other coal of poorer quality had to be purchased. Tlie result has been a heavy increase in costs and an application for an increased price in gas is foreshadowed. AUSTRALIAN LOANS. xA firm of London stockbrokers have attacked Australian loan issues and advised their clients to sell them. Little importance is attached in Federal circles to the report. The general opinion is that the attack is unfair and is founded on jealously among London ( stockbrokers.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Bruce) has pointed out that the war debt was the only non-productive debt of Australia and that the balance of the public debt of the Commonwealth had been expended in the creation of valuable assets which were to-day'in the full vigour of their reproductive power. These assets included railways, telegraphs and

telephones, irrigation systems, waterworks, ports and harbours, roads, and other public utilities. He also pointed out that in 1901 only 14 per cent, of the debt was owed to Australians, while in 1925 it had grown to 51 per cent. There was no doubt of Australia’s growing financial independence. Although 'the public debt of Australia per head of population was £l7O 17s 2d, and that of Britain £167 3s 9d, the amount of that not covered by assets in Australia was only £43, while that in Britain was £134. The Commonwealth authorities do not desire to enter into a controversy with the firm of London stockbrokers.

REQUIEM FOR CARDINAL MORAN.

A requiem mass for the late Cardinal Moran was celebrated in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday morning (July 17). It was. the 18th occasion on which the annual mass -for the late cardinal had been celebrated, and Monsignor D. O’Havan, who was so closely acquainted with the cardinal during his lifetime, has been the celebrant of every mass except one, when he was absent in Europe. Archbishop Kelly presided at the throne. A choir of 80 students from St. Patrick’s College, Manly, sang Perosi’s Requiem, and at the absolutions at the catafalque, on which rested the white mitre' of the late cardinal, Libera Me Domine whs also sung. The altar was decorated in black and white, and Archbishop Kelly was in black cape j with white mitre. Arum lilies were I placed over the late cardinal’s tomb I under the alter of the Irish saints. I INDUSTRIAL SUNDAY. ; The desperate industrial struggles in New South Wales are forcing the thoughts of its citizens into strange paths. So far the disputes have been fought between the leaders of Labour and Capital with might and class hatred as the chief' weapons, and the Arbitration Court, Royal Commissions, and conference as the referees. The results have been disastrous to both parties, and the long suffering public has been forced to watch the gradual approach of ruination. There are many signs appearing that the general public will have to take a hand in the matter, and the remarkable feature has arisen that various sections of the community are not appealing to the courts and legislation for help, but are imploring each and every citizen to create a new heart and renew within himself a right spirit towards his fellowmen. The Freemasons have been urged to carry the spirit of brotherhood from the lodgcroom to all mankind. The Rotarians have been asked to promote the spirit of goodwill so that economical problems can be discussed in an atmosphere of conciliation rather than in the haze of prejudice and party frenzy. The churches are reminding their congregations of the golden rule, and priest and pastor are preaching the gospel of live. It is hoped that from all these efforts a public opinion will be created, which will insist that the interests of masters or men shall not be allowed to stand against the interests of the community. xAugust 78 was termed Industrial Sunday, and special intercession for industrial peace was made in xAnglican churches throughout the State. A special prayer, authorised by the Archbishop, was used, and in view of the fact that much bitter feeling has been aroused, the preachers -were careful to say nothing which might cause further unrest. Tlie sermons, generally, were a plea that the 'true spirit of Christianity might prevail, and that the interests of the whole people miglit be placed before considerations of class selfishness and personal gain. The Bishop of Goulburn (Dr. Radford) advocated that the year 1930 be observedas “'A Truce of God” in the hope that the suspension of. industrial conflict may create an atmosphere of peace and goodwill, in which friendly and fruitful conferences might have a prospect of success.