AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16267, 18 July 1918, Page 2

AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

(FROM ora OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, July 10. LIFE IN THE NORTH-WEST. A Presbyterian minister from Broome, passing through Sydney recently, was interviewed by the newspapers, andi gavo some interesting information about life in the far north-west. "For about seven months in the year." he said, "the temperature is over 90, and the effect of this continued heat is seen in the women, who look washed-out .and anasmic. Iho natural effect of ansemia is "depression and melancholy. Women at Broome will tell you that they have no worries, their relatives enjoy good health, thero are no financial troubles, yet 'I sat down and cried and cried, and 1 don't know why.' Then some enterprising fiiend will come along and give a nip of gin. This 6ets the women up for a while, but the good effect does not last long.". Up in these regions, the domestic help problem is acute. Tho white people, as far as possible, use th© natives, but they aro most unsatisfactory serThey will not settlo down. After they have been for some months in a place, and been trained into somo sort of usefulness, they get restless and want to wander. If they are checked, they simply "go bush"—that is, disappear into the forests. In fact, at tho commencement of the wet season they prefer to "go bush" anji-live their old life. When tho rains como, thero are plenty of wild birds, oggs, and other things to keep them alive, but in tho dry season they stay about the towns, becaiise there is nothing to eat in the bush. Their habits are not cleanly. They detest clean clothes, which they declaro aro too cold, and they like close association with their animals. "Billy had a hugo, dirty dog, which I threatened to send away. 'S*pise you send dog away, Igo too,' was Billy's firm answer. Another fellow used to 6leep with a dog on each side of him, to act as hotwater bottles, as it were. Of course, these dogs are very useful to chase kangaroos and other game when they 'go. bush.' Some of the gins work in the houses, but more often only boys are employed. They are engaged under agreements for fixed periods, and if they go away any sooner, they may bo arrested. But once a servant bolt's, it is little us# bringing him back forcibly, for he only makes himself a nuisance or 'goes busn.' The natives are very casual—you can laugh them into doing anything, but it is. not wise to scold them and make- them 6ulky." Thoy make excellent stockmen, and on some stations gins are used to round up sheep. They search every clump of scrub, and never leave a sheep behind. Gins may be also seen driving donkey teams of from 18 to 30 animals."

There is no drainage system in Broome. Sewage runs under the houses' and the intense heat dries it quickly. Yet Broome is a very healthy town, and typhoid is unknown. There is considerable dengue fever, but it is not serious. The Japanese and Malays, of whom there are considerable numr bers. suffer from beri-beri, the result of too much rice: tho cure is fresh moat and vegetables. •

"PUSHES" APPEAR AGAIN. Ihuao uaa uvea bumu iojentiy 01 1116 iHJm in oyuuoy uud OI luti IIUbUI'IUUO "jjusht-s'' wuicu tenonbeil various urteeu or tweuLy years tt£o. '1110 ovu is iiov luitjiy lu feiow, iur the pouce aie a pi«uoowoitny uei.fcrlllilla.Llou u> uiy it 111 tne Uud.

inero havo been one or two royal battiea, However, Detneeu wo "pusues" in luaniokviue, a iSyctuey suouru. 'ihe aiuiereius of tuo two organisations flgut wueuevor tuey meet. oiicKs auU BVouo3 arc. gouerau-y tueir primitive weapons, out occasionally tnearniß are useu. Xne omer cay, iticnard j?uUay bitiney 61111 tn, a cnuuneur me-uunic, age a lb, was fined £6 tor disciiaigmg tu earns in the street, and tnus a story of tne "pusiies" came out.

Smith, it appears, is a member of tho "lUubey street push," and the man whom lie soured with, his revolver is Joe Bodkin, a member of tho "Camperdown Flat Rats." Smith was with other youtiis in a street in MarrickviJle on Sunday afternoon, June 30th, looking for the "Flat Rats." But tho "Rats" appeared in* unexpected strength, and the representatives of "Reibey street" received a sound thrashing, and woro routed. Later, they met another "Rat," but the latter produced a revolver, whereupon Smith also revolver, which, he afterwards aLogewi, was loaded with soap bullets, and fired two shots, high and wide. He was afterwards arrested.

It was stated in Smith's defence that the "Rats" were a public menace and nuisance, and had threatened Smith. He therefore carried the revolver for his own protection. Tho police stated /that they were endeavouring to break tip the "pushes," and several youths had been prosecuted! Tho "pushes" met, in numbers varying from 50 to 200, every Sunday in Enmorc Park, . whtve they promoted fights, arranged j battles, threatened passing people, and made themselves a general nuisance.

NEW SYSTEM OF BACKBLOCKS EDUCATION. The Government of West Australia has adopted a system of teaching by correspondence the children in the back blocks, whero the population is so scattered that the establishment of a school is not practicable. The plan has been in operation, for some little time in New South Wales and Victoria, and has boan attended by a, good deal of success. It is considered that one teacher, in a central position, can in this way givo tuition to 30 or 40 children. Children ar© enrolled at from 5 to 16 years ago, and in any grade. Parents and elder children are expected, where possible, to suporvise the work of tneso students, and the experience in both. States in this respect has been a happy one: the children receive considerable assistance from their eldors. The school year is divided into three terms, each of . 14 weeks, and the subjects for each grade are dividod into sets of twi weeks' work, provision being also made for tho revision of work and for examination. The children are expected to work to a timetable, and as each beginner is enrolled the work is set out clearly and forwarded every fortnight. The Education Department in cach the two States mentioned, has sent to W«st Australia sets of works and timetables.

"None but a well qualified teacher '.<5 suitable to carry out this wnrk," said ot> 6 Minister, "and it is necessary to off or suitable remuneration, but when it is remembered t-hnt in these localities whero it is jAssihle to establish t*><i smallest of schools the cost per child is about £20 per annum, it will bo realised that the new scheme is comparatively economical, since the oost per head is considerably less than irenoral average throughout the States of £7 per head."