THE COMMONWEALTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14392, 6 January 1911, Page 6

THE COMMONWEALTH.

* Pres3 Association —By Tel. —Copyright. FEDERAL MATTERS. MELBOURNE, Jan. 5. The. Federal Customs and Excise returns for the six months ended 'December amount to £6,46'U,G35. The revenue shows a surplus of £GBO,S9S. Mr Fisher, tlio Federal Premier, in an interview, said lie approved of the suggested removal of the High Commissioner of the Pacific to Australia. He intends to press the matter at the Imperial Conference. Tlio Commonwealth Government is negotiating with tho Union Steamship 1 Company for a reduction in fares from America to Australia, during March and April to £25, with a view to at-: tracting Americans and Canadians. If the negotiations are successful it is proposed to advertise Australia largely in America. ' Mr Hughes, Attorney-General, and Mr Batchelor, Minister for External Affairs, are passengers to New Zealand by the Moeraki. CATHOLICS AND STATE SCHOOLS. Cardinal Moran has convened a conference to consider the edueatiou po- ', licy of the Catholic Church and its relation to the Dopartment of Public Instruction. The Cardinal states that all the Roman Catholics are striving for is justice to their schools. THE DEFENCE. SYSTEM. .; • SYDNEY, .Taan. S. j The General Post Office distributed 5000 registration forms to applicants under the compulsory training system iu two days. ■ ' ' A LOAN FORESHADOWED. The Labour Government find 3 that in order to carry out its public works programme, it mny have to borrow in London in the near future. The Government has decided to raise the rate of interest on stock issued locally, to 3J per centum, 3J being below iho normal/market rate. j _ 1 1 THE NEW GOLDFIELD. PERTH, Jan. 5. The gold yield last year was 124,030 ounces below that of . tho previous * | year. , I The scheme for supplying the Bull- '; finch field with water is nearly comI pleted. The railway works are mak--1 ing good progress, but the labour troubles are still unsettled, delaying development work. The outlook for the supply of fuel for the mines is grave.