THE COMMONWEALTH.

Timaru Herald, Issue 170301, 21 August 1920, Page 9

THE COMMONWEALTH.

AUSTRALIA'S PACIFIC MANDATE. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and >.\Z. Cable MELBOURNE, August' 19. In the House of Representatives S M.Joseph Cook introduced a BiJl providing for the acceptance of the mandate ove r the- Pacific territories. An amendment providing that the proposed Government should be in accordance with the White Australia policy was rejected by 32 to 22. VICTORIAN CABINET CRISIS, MELBOURNE, August 20. i Iho V ictorian Government intends to again submit the Public Service clause to Parliament on Tuesday. It is stated that fourteen Ministerialists were absent on Wednesday, when the Govern? ment was defeated on the clause re-iei red to by 21 to 13. MURDEROUS MAN-WOMAN. SYDNEY, August 19. The Falleni case is proceeding. Medical evidence was given to the effect tha.t before Bjrkett's body was placed lu the fire, there were indications that the head had been smashed. Birl-.ett's son gave evidence that Falleni took him to the South Head shortly after his mother's death, and twice took him. to the bush at night timeand dug deep holes, the implication being, m the first instance, that -=ho intended to throw him over the rocks, and at the other tinies meant to kill him .and "oury him in the "-raves ha himself had helped to dig. LOSS OF LAMBS BY DROUGHT. SYDNEY, August SO The Chief Inspector of Stock estimates that as a result of the recent drought the lambings this year will bu 2,000,000, or only 27 per cent, of tha ewes mated. The autumn and winter lambings for the previous four years were 5,000,000 to 7,000,000. For thu forthcoming spring lambing 3,712,0(X> were mated, from which it was estimated that 2,158,000 lambs will he marketed. APPRECIATION OF MR. HUGHES. A!, movement has been launched bv soldiers to recognise the patriotic work of Mr Hughes during and after the war. Two hundred and fifty pounds was subscribed at a preliminary meeting. *. INCREASE.OF CRIME. The Inspector-General of Police, presenting his annual report, states that there has been a phenomenal increasu in serious crime since the termination of the war, accentuated by shortage of police. There is a marked tendency <;( all classes to carry firearms, and it is apparent that legislation to restrict the pracice'*is urgently required. INFLUENZA COMPENSATION CLAIMS. ._ -SYDNEY,. Aug. 20. The Commissioner appointed to inquire into influenza claims reduced the amounts from £IIB,OO to £lo,oo<>. The influenza claims report discloses that some claimants took a wide view of the meaning of compensation. In some cases claims are referred to as attempts to improperly secure Government money. One man sought a. refund of wages where his business had not been closed; another claimed for the repair of delapidaicd premises; a third claimed rent for self-owned premises. In the case of publicans' claims, it was found that numbers did better business during the epidemics with the front doors closed than when they were open. Claims on behalf of Roman Cathol'c schools for fees and salaries were reduced from £21,850 to £4140, on tho ground that teachers in such schools received no salaries, and no allowance