UNUSUAL FACTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20785, 21 April 1939, Page 10

UNUSUAL FACTS

DISCLOSED IN YEAR BOOK HAPPENINGS IN AUSTRALIA Did you know that in Australia last year three people died from snake- , bite, that the average consumption of beer, per head, was 10.34 gallons, or that eight sets of triplets were born in N.S.W.? These and countless other facts, are contained in the latest issue of the Commonwealth Year Book. Did you realise that during the twelve months ended June 30. 1938, £60,048,485 was collected by the Commonwealth Government in taxation, or just on £lO a head? This, of course, includes all forms of taxes—customs, excise, sales, flour, land, estate, entertainment, and last, but not least, income tax. Film Figures In addition, in N.S.W., State taxes, comprising liquor, racing, lotteries, motor licences, stamp duty and other taxes, amounted to £20,504.582 —or aproximatelv £6 17s 9d a head. In 1937. 1712 films were imported into Australia. All went before tlie Board of Censors, and 1538 were “modified,” hut. 17 were banned altogether. Of the total, 1152 were passed without cuts and 157 were American, 459 English and 101 came* from other countries. Australia exported 104 4 films that year, probably mostly news reels, 909 being destined for various parts of the Empire. The total amount of tweed and cloth manufactured iu Australia in 1936-37 was 25,013,853 square yards. Of this New South Wales contributed 10,94 6.691 square yards—or, assuming the material to he 36 inches wide, sufficient to reach from Sydney to Karachi. Absent-Minded People The absent-mindednes of some people is not. more clearly demonstrated than in the records of the Dead Letter Offices. In 1936-37 money and valuables worth £82.903 were found in undeliverable articles. Australia is one of the few countries in which the number of males exceeds that of females. The last eensus was taken in 1933. but the Year Book estimates the population uf Australia at June 30, 1938, as 0.893.082. New South Wales is the most densely populated S:ate, with 2,718,901. There were 47.4 97 births in New South Wales, including eight triplets and 1004 twins. Victoria, with four, was the onlv State in which quadruplets v.-re horn. Fifteen females and nineteen male centenarians died in Australia during 1937, the eldest being a woman uf 105, at Marion, South Australia.