AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1217, 28 August 1911, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

j COAL STRIKE. AND ITS AFTERMATH. "On Saturday we published pome very plain-speaking statistics supplied by the New South Wales Commercial Commissioner in ths East regarding tho effect of the big coal strike upon the export trade of .this Stato (states the "Sydney Daily Telegraph" of August 11). Mr. Suttor's figures deal ouly with India and. Burmali, and what they show is that during the past year the purchase of Australian coal by thoso two countries fell off to the extent of over ,£lft7,ooo. This is exclusive of the heavy decrease in shipments, to Manila and "other oversea ports. Out of tho ,£137,000 that the strike prevented from coming here from India and Burmali in payment toi coal quite ninety per cent is lost by the. wage-earners. This represents about the lowest amount that would have had to be spent in mining and handling tho coal. Instead of going into the pockets of our own workers it went to give employment to coloured labour in Asia. A large part of this sum may, therefore, be regarded as a levy rna'db on the coal minors of New South to encourage tho employment of coloured labour in competition with them. Tilings happen to be booming in the State ut present, and the work that, as tho result of all this pitiable business, has gone from our people to coloured men in foreign countries may not just now be greatly missod. But only the seeds of the evil have as yet been sown. The harvest will be reaped when the mines that were developed by coloured men in consequence of the strike attain their full output, and make further inroads on our export coal trade, which is now sucn a ■lartjo source of employment for'well-paid white labour." ANOTHER REFERENDUM. PROMISED BY MR, FISHER, Mr. Fisher, tho Prime Minister, was greatly surprised when he learned in midocean the heavy vote given in tho negative on-the Federal constitutional referenda. "Before I left Melbourne," lie said, "I formed the opinion that wo should bo beaten, after tho absence of enthusiasm which I found in Victoria back centres. When I got to Perth I was given a reception, and from what I beard there I was satisfied that West Australia would vote for tho Government. Although, on tho whole, I thought that tho Government would bo defeated, still I didn't think that the majority against us would be so heavy. We intend to have another try. I think that these powers are necesary, and wo propose to take a second referendum at the next, general .election. That can bo done without much additional expense. The question will bo brought beforo Parliament in tho 1912 ■■ session. I don't say that tho questions will necessarily follow tho same form, if the same thing can be submitted in a better way; and if, out of our experience, we think it can be better applied, we shall not hesitato to do it. As to whether we should accept any surrender of powers from tho States, instead" of having another appeal to tho people, I should not like to express an opinion. That matter can be considered when it arises."

MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS. There was a big increase in the number of marriages in Victoria during the quarter ended Juno 30, the total being 3031, or 433 more than in tho previous quarter, which showed a considerable increase on ths quarter beforo it. In 1006 tho total was 8030, and this number was increased in 1010 to 10,210. At the present rate it is likely to reach over 11,000 at the end of this year. The births for the quarter numbered 8289, an increase of 88 on (he previous three months. Tho increase occurred in the metropolis, the rest of tho State showing a slight loss.

ADDRESS BY CARDINAL MORAN. One of tho late Cardinal Moran's last official acts was tho laying of the founda-hon-stone of a new presbytery in connection with tho newly-crcated parish at Chatswood. Speaking of the attitude of the Church in regard to the sanctity of the marriage tie, the Cardinal said that in the present-day divorce was ril'e in many countries, but the Church set itself against tho breaking of this holy' bond. He had been informed that during the past ten years no fewer than one million divorces had been granted in the United States. What a vast number of people were in consequence compromised. Not only were the husbands and wives affected, but the children of these dissolved marriages were also affected. It was a terrible disease, the Cardinal said, and should be combated on every possible occasion. In connection with tho differences that occurred between employer and employee, the Cardinal remarked that it was the duty of the Church to preach equity, assuring to Labour its rights, and at the same time maintaining the position of tho employer alom; the paths of duty and responsibility. In a thousand different ways the Church was engaged in adjusting differences and relieving suffering. An earnest of the sincerity of flio Chiircil was the fact that it had established numerous hospitals for the sick and distressed, asylums for the orphan and foundling, and the aged aad poor. "SAUNTERING." In giving his award in Adelaide as between the employers and the employees in the wine and spirit trade, Mr. Justice Gordon remarked that, having.fixed the wages for adults and boys higher than thoso in Sydney, and lie believed also ire Melbourne, ho had placed tho South Australian producers of wine and brandy at a disadvantage. Ho had taken that course, however, because of the special circumstances of the case, and also bccauso ho thought the Sydney rates too low. He, therefore, took tho liberty of suggesting that the men could compensate the employers by added energy in their work. He* did not suggest that want of energy on tho part of the employees was a feature of the industry, but tho most ardent sympathiser with Labour could not shut his eyes to the fac( Siat there was a mistaken notion abroad in many departments of work that for a workman to use his energies beyond a given point was inconsistent with his own interests and with loyalty to the cause of Labour. There was no doubt justification for a workman

"sauntering" if he was underpaid, but. if he was as fairly paid as the conditions of liis particular industry warranted, he was really disloyal to tho cause of Labour if ho did not do a fair day's work.

LAPSE OF MEMORY. A young mnii, Angus Raggatt, employed at Walmar (Victoria) experienced a strange lapse of memory on Saturday, August 12. He was ploughing in tlio morning, and at 11 o'clock he left his team standing in the paddock and rede into ITorsliam. From that hour until tlio next morning his memory was a complete Wank. It has been ascertained that after making a few purchases in Horsham. Ttaggatt returned to AValmar, unyoked his team, stabled them, and returned to Ilorsham on his pony, lie must, however, h;tvo fallen off, as ho arrived on foot, and the pony was found near the farm. A friend saw I?aggatt standing outside a shop. He appearod to In> dazed, and his clothing was muddy. Ho had forgotten hi.s name, and could not recall his movements during thft past 12 hours, nor did he know ho was m Horsham. Ho was token to a private hospital, and the doctor could find no traces of the uiau Laving been injured,