AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7982, 9 March 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

REPORT OF MILITARY BOARD.

Reoeived Maroh 8, 9.20 a.m. MELBOURNE, Marob 8. The annual report of the Military Board states that the present scheme of reorganisation provides for a peace establishment of 25,500 in all ranks. The Board proposes to try at an early date a soheme for interchanging officers between Australia, Canada and India. Eight thousand of the latest pattern of magazine rifles have been ordered. Eighteen out of the thirty-six automatic machine guns ordered h ave been delivered. . . , It is stated in the report that the colonial ammunition factory is oapable of producing eighteen million rounds for small arms aunually.

I * THE NEW HEBRIDES aGREEMENI.

Reoeived Maroh 8, 8.29 a.m. MELBOURNE, March 8. The Age, in urging the unsatisfactory nature of the New Hebrides agreement, says:— "If Pariament had been sitting, it is quite Certain that an adjournment of both Houses of Parliament would have been moved to discuss the situation, es peoially the absolute ignoring of the representatives of every Federal Minister of External Affairs since Federation was consummated." The Age summarises the oase against the settlemeent in so far as the position is revealed in the cable messages, and adds: "It follows that it was arrived at without any oommunoation or consultation with Australia or New Zealand. The agreement deals with only one question—land disputes. It refuses Australia representation on the land tribunal, lays down no basis for the regulation of trade : and sets out no code of laws outside the suggested oommunes. In other words it means the continuance of the old dual oontrol system, under which Franoe would be able to further increase her hold on the Islands. The agreement also ignores the expressed desire of influential native rulers to be placed definitely under British rule."

TRADERS' VIEWS

Received Maroh 8, 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY". Maroh 8. Island traders in Sydney consider that the Now Hebrides Agreeraen t will give. France a preponde r ating influence. The system of municipal government will enable French settlers to ooutrol the group, owing to the British holdings being scattered, while the French settlements are on strategic points and provide the only important base on the future route between Englaud and Australia via the Panama Canal.

CABLE -NEWS.

By Telezrapb—Pre.« Association.— Cooytizht.