COMMONWEALTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 18, 28 October 1908, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH.

The Women's Suffrage Bill was read a second time in the State Assembly by 4.5 votes to 8.

Divers Rogers and May intend to make an effort shortly to recover the remainder of the Elingamite’s gold. If the present conditions continue the New’ South Wales harvest is expected to yield 18 to-20 million bushels of wheat. Private advices received state that the Holmes-Allen trolley head was awarded the only medal at the Franco-British Exhibition.

In onder to bring about a complete reorganisation of the State Cabinet all members will place their resignations in Sir Thos. Bent’s hands.

The Lund liner Naming and the Huddart Parker Company’s steamer Yarra collided in the Port River, both vessels being badly damaged.

The State Treasurer has introduced tax proposals which provide for raising the exemption to incomes of £2OO. When the income reaches £BOO the exemption disappears.

The Marine Court found that the Min-taro-Wairuna collision was caused by the Mintaro’s master thinking that the Wairuna was anchored. There was nothing to justify the certificate of either master being dealt with. Remarking upon the beautiful expressiveness of the Tongan language in a brief address at St. John’s College, Sydney, Dr. Olier, Roman Catholic Bishop of Tonga, humorously suggested that it must really have been the language used by our .first parents in Eden. Federal Finance. In the Federal House of Representatives last week. Mr. G. H. Reid moved his motion of censure in connection with the Government’s Budget proposals. In a slashing speech, he charged the Government with reckless finance. The Government proposed to absorb the whole of the revenue remaining, after paying back tlie three-fourths to the States, as required by law. This would leave nothing to meet the vicissitudes of Federal finance. It was a desperate system of finance, with no margin of safety. The Federal services, especially the Post Office and Defence Department, were being starved, while the Government proposed a largely increased outlay in connection with oid age pensions, the naval defence scheme, immigration, and in other directions. Child labour. A report received by the N.S.W. Teachers’ Association on The child labour question shows that out of 855 scholars in 20 schools, 503 assisted in dairy work. One country teacher says: “The worst cases are those of State boys and families engaged on shares or wages. In those cases the evil amounts to worse than slavery.” Medical Congress. At the Medical Congress Dr. Poulton, of South Australia, read a paper on “Surgery in Tuberculosis.” He said that in six years, out of 1819 cases of tuberculosis in the Adelaide hospitals, 42 per cent suffered from lesions, other than lesions of the lungs and throat, and of 4032 deaths in the Commonwealth over 19 per cent were caused similarly. What was described as the most eloquent paper brought before the Medical Congress was read by Dr. Pomare, entitled “The Maori.” Dr. Pockley, of Sydney, was elected president of the Medical Congress, tho next sitting of which will be held at Sydney.

The Ausrtalaeian Medical Congress carried a resolution that hospitals maintained by charitable donations and Government grants should be free to patients, and that patients should sign * declaration that they are unable to afford medical attendance.

A resolution was adopted that no medical man should pass for admiesion to a Friendly Society or association for professional attendance at contract rates any person whose income from all source# exceeds £4 a week, that no medical man should attend at contract rates on any; member whoee income exceeds £6 pen week. Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer for New Zealand, read a paper on “Sidelights on the Work of a Health Coalition in Queensland. A meeting of Opposition and Covert*ment supporters was held last Friday, and subsequently both parties attended a joint meeting. Mr. Philp, Leader of the Opposition, on behalf of his party, announced that they had unanimously agreed to coalesce with the Government. Mr. Kidston, the Premier, said that his party was not unanimous. He had taken an unusual course in asking them to attend a combined meeting. His justification was the unusual position in Queensland public life. The position of parties was such that no party could carry on without the assistance of other parties. The best thing for the country was the reorganisation of the parties. As a result of the meeting Mr. Kidston will have a free hand in forming a new. Ministry, and 44 members will support it.

Air. Airey (Treasurer) and Air. Kerr (Alinister for Public Works) have protested against the coalition. Air. Philp has resigned the portfolio which he accepted under the coalition.