AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XXVI, 27 June 1903, Page 1786

AUSTRALIA.

A German syndicate has asked the Federal Government if it would support a scheme to lay a cable from German New Guinea to Queensland. The Government has asked for further information. Tiie second annual conference of the Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce is being held in Melbourne. A resolution favouring the establishment of an Australian navy was rejected by a large majority. Most of the speakers favoured the Federal Government proposals for an increased subsidy. TWO FISHERMEN DROWNED. A disabled boat containing two dead bodies has been found bn the beaeh at Sorell, Tasmania. The men have been ideni.bed as two young fishermen named Waller Cannon and Charles Hewitt, the latter being a recent arrival from Dunedin. hew Zealand. A FIRM BISHOP. At a lecture of the Evangelical Church Association. Melbourne, the Rev. Digby Beriy criticised certain innovations in the Church service introduced by the Bishop. The latter, in reply, said, ‘They may protest as long as they like. I have adopted the eastward position because I believe it to be right and legal to do so. What is more, I am not going back on what I have said." POPE AND PREMIER. A petition, signed by thirty thousand Protestants, has been presented to the Federal House, protesting against Sir E. Barton's visit to the Pope and his acceptance of a medal. It emphasises the statement that Sir E. Barton promised the Catholies a greater measure of liberty and consideration than that enjoyed in any other part of the Empire. Sir E. Barton made a personal explanation. The facts, he said, were that the Pope expressed his gratification at the tolerance shown to all religions in Australia, and hoped if would long continue, to which he (the Premier) replied that the Pope might rely that such toleration would continue. N.S.W. PARLIAMENT. The N.S.W. Parliament was opened by His Excellency Sir H. Rawson on June 16th. The Speech was largely devoted to the question of the reduction of members. It announced

that now that women's franchise had received assent a bill would at once be introduced with a view to obtaining a direct vote on the reduction of members. Arrangements would be made for taking the vote during the senatorial election in December. Il favourable to reductions a short session would be held immediately to give effect to the decision. Members were congratulated on the break-up of the drought. Notwithstanding the large extra expenditure in connection therewith, the financial position of the State was thoroughly sound, and there was no necessity for increased taxation. Efforts would continue to be made to keep expenditure within the revenue, and the strictest economy would be observed. No loan money would be used beyond that necessary- for the reasonable development of the natural resources of the State. The legislation promised included an Old Age Pensions and Land Amending Bills. The Speech also foreshadows Bills making provision for compensation to workmen injured in the course of employment, and for more effectually protecting the funds of industrial unions from the legal consequences of the decision in the Taff Vale cases.