AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 27 May 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press Assn. —By Tel. —Copyright. Melbourne, this day.

It is stated that under the new defence scheme the total of the annual cadet training establishment will be approximately 31,000, of all ranks, a reduction of 80,000 on the existing establishment. In consequence of Mr Justice Cussen stating that certain articles of the company were an- unreasonable restraint on trade, the Victorian Onion and Potato Growers’ Association directors recommended shareholders to wind up the company, which was formed in 1921, to market potatoes and onions.

The Federal Treasury will distribute £5,000,000 interest on war loans on June 15th.

Sydney, this day. The Board of Trade is expected to decide next week whether the women’s basic wage will be reviewed. A reduction of three shillings is foreshadowed.

The new wage for men was gazetted yesterday, and applied to Broken Hill.

Judge Beeby, in the Profiteering Prevention Court, increased the price of milk from 7Jd to 8d on the pounds that the cost *of production increased during the winter months. The Commonwealth-Dominion line of steamers proposes establishing a regular monthly srevice from Australia to Hamburg to compete agamst the German line when trade is resumed in Ist August.

The coalminers met the owners at a conference and discussed the latter s suggested reductions in wages, the conference proved resultless and was adjourned till next week LONDON, May 25. P ublishes a letter in Pall Mall Gazette,” contradicting General Smuts’s statement that Australian industries are falling to Pieces owing to the high tariff He writes that this is ludicrously maocurate and absurd. Australia's manuunng industries were' never in such a flourishing condition. . SYDNEY May 26. Mr Piddington, replying to Mrs Besant, reviews the whole position reg“raing the allegations against Bishop Leadbeater. He says that she must meet the real question. How can she, a professed priestress of truth and the inspired leader of morals, shield, by her personal influence, a colleague, Bishop Leadbeater, of whom an English Judge said that he was an immora! person. Bishop Leadbeater is still alleged to be what an English Judge said of him. Mrs Besant has shielded Bishop Leadbeater from inquiry, and finally Bishop Leadbeater says nothing.” Acting under Ministerial instructions, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered the fullest inquiries to be made into the allegations concerning persons connected with the Theosophical Society.

Several boys were taken to the police headquarters and interrogated. It is reported from Broken Hill that an influx of wild dogs is assuming alarming proportions, making it impossible for leaseholders to persevere successfully with sheep growing in West Darling. A deputation of pastoralists is visiting Sydney to seek relief.

Mr T. J. Ley promised a deputation representing builders and real estate agents that the Government would either amend or recast the Fair Rents Act at an early date, to remove the irksome building difficulties without interfering with the tenants’ right of protection against avaricious landlords.

The Minister of Works (Sir Thos. Henley) announced that he is prohibiting enterprises run by the State soliciting business by advertisement or canvassing in competition with private enterprise. PERTH, May 26. Frederick French, employed by a farmer, Andrew Podestra. shot the latter dead. French then took poison and died under arrest. He made a statement that he shot Podestra because he refused to pay money he owed him. . BRISBANE, May 26 Over 400,000 rats and mice were destroyed in the metropolis since the plague broke out in August, whereof 186 were infected. MELBOURNE, May 26 On the application piade by the Australian Workers’ Union, Mr Justice Powers deferred signing the shearers’ new award until Tuesday next to give the Australian Workers’ Union a chance to submit amendments.