COMMONWEALTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 5, 29 July 1908, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH.

A Tasmanian loan of £200,000 has been issued at 3J per cent with a minimum of 98J. Sir T. Gibson-Carmichael, the new Governor of Victoria, has arrived by the RM.S. Macedonia from London. After a long-drawn battle, Sydney City Council has decided to allow the use of the Town Hall for Sunday concerts. Owing to shortness of fat stock in Victoria, Southern buyers are operating on a large scale in the Sydney market, where high prices are now ruling. A Japanese cook in an hotel at Townsville shot a young girl named Gallagher, employed in the hotel, and then shot himself dead. He had a quarrel with th# girl a few days ago. In connection with a Chinese gambling ease, a detective stated that the Government Actuary had worked out the chances of drawing a prize in a pak-a-poo bank, and they were eleven million to one. Under the enlarged powers of the amended Anti-Trust Act the Victorian Customs authorities are inquiring into alleged coal and confectionery combines with a view to possible action. In the Tasmanian Assembly, a want of confidence motion, tabled on the ground that the Government was not sincere in pushing matters through the Council, was negatived by 18 votes to 11. Tb.e Tasmanian Assembly read the Local Option Bill a second time on the voices. It provides for time and compensation for tb.e dosing of hotels and places clubs on the same footing as hotels. Official returns show that 42,000 Island labourers have returned to their homes and about 1000 have been granted certificates enabling them to remain in the Commonwealth. Provision is made in the Tasmanian Local Option Bill that after September only those barmaids employed will be allowed to remain and no increase will be permitted. A Sydney suburban councillor stated that rabbits suffering from hydatids were being sent to Sydney for consumption, and that he would sooner take a bottle of strychnine than eat a rabbit at the present time. Giving evidence before the Postal Commission Mr. Young, deputy-postmas-ter, said that the alleged sweating was exaggerated. He admitted that payment for 32,000 hours’ overtime was due to the staff. He had been compelled to do clerical work owing to shortness of the staff and the Department thus lost his services as Controller. The West Australian Parliament was apened on the 23rd July. The Governor’s Speech, which was brief, stated that as the session would be a short one only formal bills would be submitted. The general election had been arranged for as early as possible, and a new Parliament would bo summoned to get through work this year. The South Australian Parliament’ was opened on the 23rd July. The Governor’s Speech congr-tulated the country on its unexampled prosperity. There was a surplus of £450,000, which would be devoted to the reduction of the public debt. Attention would be given to further closer settlement, progressive land taxation, early closing, and several other social measures. Now Soxstli Wales Po'ill i The Governor, Sir Harry Rawson, opened Parliament on July 22. The SpeedN

referred to the prosperous condition of the State and to the viait of the Ameritan fleet, and expressed the hope that the capital site question would be settled during the present session. The bills promised included measures for closer settlement, pure foods, minimum wage, and workmen’s compensation. Mr. McGowan, Leader of the Opposition, moved: “ That the conduct of the Government in their relations to the Commonwealth had brought ridicule upon the State, that such conduct, and also their action in making unwarranted and unnecessary appointments to the Legislative Council, merited the condemnation of the House. Mr. Wade, in a fighting speech in reply, claimed that the Government Lad only done its duty in resisting Commonwealth encroachment upon State rights. He intended acting in conjunction with other States to issue a writ against the Federal Government, restraining them from withholding the State’s three-fourths of the revenue for June, and claimed that the Council appointments were necessary to make the Chamber reasonably ellective. Effect of Shipping “ Rings.” ■At the request of the Royal Commission sitting in London inquiring into shipping rings, the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce has prepared a statement relative to the effects of the shipping combines on Australian trade. The statement sets ou t that th c London Shipping Conference, which, it is understood, controls practically all freight dispatched from the United Kingdom, allows shippers a rebate o* 10 per cent. It also alleges that a similar rebate agreement is enforced between Australian shippers and steamship companies to the East, while an agreement, but unwritten, prevails in the Australian interstate trade in favour of certain associated companies. It is claimed that owing to the system of rebates, trade is lost to the Commonwealth States. No rebate system exists in the AustralianNew Zealand trade. An Australian AirshlwrSergcant Matthews, of the local Defence Force, has completed a military airship, and shortly gives a public demonstration of a working model. The main features of the invention are that it can be manipulated without loss of gas, and is easily steerable. Experts have pronounced favourably on the airship. Australia’s Finance. A dinner was given jn London, under the auspices of the Australasian Chambers of Commerce, Sir John Cockburn (ex-Agent-General for South Australia) presiding. Sir J. Hector Carruthers (ex-Premier of New South Wales) dwdlt upon the position and resources of New South Wales. He made a spirited defence of Australian finance, and claimed that the whole of the interest on the public debt was being paid by the net earnings of public works. Australia, ne continued, was rapidly becoming independent of the London money market. He was confident that the Australian people would not tolerate the Commonwealth’s disposition to encroach upon the States’ proportion of the Customs revenue. He urged Britishers to use Australian wines, which were capable of immense development. .He declined to regard Australia’s increasing trade with the East as a danger or evil to the United States. Sydney Tram Strike. Replying on July 21st to a deputation from the Tramway Union protesting against the espionage system, the Chief Commissioner (Mr. Johnston) said that careful consideration would be given to suggestions made to enable an accused man to secure evidence in his defence. If, Mr. Johnston continued, the Commissioners could see their way to modify the existing system, while preserving a check on dishonesty, they would be as glad as the men themselves to do so, but when the deputation came with demands, as representatives of the men, unable to depart from the position they had taken up, he had to tell them that the Commissioners must be allowed to manage the affairs of their department in their own way. After an interview on July 23 between the Railway Commissioners and the representatives of the Tramway Employees’

Union, * mass meeting of the day-shift men was held. The president, Mr. Lawton, announced the decision of the Commissioners. The Chief Commissioner, Mr. Richardson, had promised to consider the re-organisation of the espionage system, but firmly refused to reconsider the demand for the re-instatement of Conductor Croucher, dismissed as a result of the espionage system. The president of the union, addressing a meeting from which the Press were, excluded, while not advising a strike, said there was only one course open . If they decided to come out it must not be on the espionage system only, but on every question of importance effecting tramwaymen. It was announced that the steam-tram drivers, the power-house men, and the electrical staff, would be with them in the event of a strike. A ballot taken at -t late hour resulted in 1420 voting for and 32 against a strike at noon on July 24. The strike commenced according to resolution. Finding that some men were being relieved from duty as the cars reached the ppwer-houfie», the others immediately came out, leaving the trams standing in the streets. One or two spasmodic attempts were made to run cars on July 24, but hostile demonstrations made it almost impossible for the most loyal employee to stick to his post. Five arrests for assault were made during the afternoon, one or two victims being treated at the hospitals. At the power house 259 men came out in sympathy with the conductors. The authorities state that in some instances the cars have been tampered with, and parts removed. A disputation from the Labour Council asked the Premier for an independent board of inquiry into the tramway men’s grievances, and also for the reinstatement of Conductor Croueher, over whose dismissal the trouble originated. The Premier refused both requests. He said the men had broken the law, and would have to return to work before the Government’s intentions became known, or before any promises were made. The tramway men at Broken Hill and Newcastle have also struck work.

The pinoh of the strike was felt on July 25. Though a limited number of trams, each with its police guard, were running to and from all the suburbs, the service was insufficient to meet the big early morning rush.

Workers from further suburbs are finding a difficulty in reaching the city. ’Buses and all kinds of vehicles have been pressed into service, and additional railway and ferry facilities have been arranged to cope with the block. A large body of suburban police were drafted into the city in readiness for the resumption of the modified service. Altogether twenty arrests have been made in connection with the hostile demonstration on July 24th.

The strikers acted with complete unanimity, not a single regular conductor remaining at work. The situation in connection with the tramway strike has become grave. There is now an indication of a great industrial upheaval. At the Trades’ Hall on July 25th, the atmosphere was electrical. The Labour Council discussed the situation, but great secrecy was maintained. It is stated that a resolution was passed calling upon all unions to strike at noon on the 18th, unless the tramway trouble was ended by then. Another attempt was made to persuade the Premier to take action on behalf of the men, but he remains inflexible, and adheres to his determination that the men must first return to duty.