AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

KEEPING THE SOLDIER PIT HEALTH COMMITTEE ON DRINK AND DISEASE. By Telegraph—Presa Aasooiatfon-Oopyrirlit Melbourne, December G. A venereal diseases hospital is being formed for service in Egypt. The staff will consist of seven officers, including four bateriologists, one decmatologist, and 118 others. The hospital will be capable of dealing with IC4C patients. DRINK THE MAIN CAUSE OF SICKNESS. ■ , (Rec. December 6, 10.15 p.m T ) Sydney, December 6. A standing sanitary committee, composed of the Army medical heads and other experts,;. I 'reporting on the Liverpool camp, makes, a number ,of suggestions foi jmproving the sanitary and health conditions. Tho report says:— "The proportion of sickness and incapacity in camp is much too high. We believe that it could be very greatly diminished. Some of the deaths and muoh of ..the ill-health and incapacity, is traceable to the toxic effects of alcohol. We have evidence that (alcoholism is prevalent and excessive amongst the recruits, and feel''convinced that if drunkenness could be checked, venereal diseases would, be much less common, and the susceptibility .of 'the men to other infectious diseases would be diminished. We believe that' no' other single cause hsß bo profound an effect on the health and efficiency of the troops. '%\e therefore, recommend the establishment of wet canteens inside or close to the camp,' for the sale of light ales iuul wines.. The Liverpool district should be 1 put out of bounds, so eliminating'the public-houses and tho women ' of ill-repute; and closing all the'public? houses (excepting those authorised as canteens), throughout'the'State'to sol? diora in uniform after 6 o'clock. Shout- • insr for soldiers should he made illegal and drunkenness penalised by tho curtailment of leave. ' ■ \ \ STATS TO ASSIST INVENTORS. PATENTS INVESTIGATION" BOARD BSTABLIHED. Sydney, December 6. ( A Patents Investigation Board- has been established to enable inventors to have the merits of their inventions demonstrated and examined at Govern-, meiit oxpensp. If they are satisfactory, . the Government will'further assist in their development-. V THE TEMORA TRAGEDY. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. ■ t -.. Sydney, December -6,' At an inquest regarding the Teniora tragedy, evidence was given that Hastie was of a quarrelsome disposition, and had previously fired at his wife. He threatened to shoot a son after firing at hjs daughter, ) A young son who was' present said lie saw his father turn tho revolver to his head, and after saying, "IJere goes," fired. A verdict wag re? turned that death had been wilfully self-inflicted. / [Douglas Hastie quarrelled with his daughter and fired a revolver. He missed, but the girl dropped from fright. The father, thinking, he had killed Tier, immediately and fatally, shot himself.] NEWS IN BRIEF. SOCIALISTS OUSTED AT CIVIC ' ELECTIONS. ' Atie|aidO, December 6. The municipal elections,.resulted in the Socialist's' 'defeat, 1 ' 1 and' Liberal and Independent increases. Alderman I. Isaacs defeated the retiring Mayor (Mr. A. A.- Simpson). This was the first contest for the Mayoralty for many fears. , THE : FIRE AT THE- HOTEL . ' AUSTRALIA. , - Sydney, December 6. The damage to the Hotel Australia ob the result of tho fire is estimated at £20,000. (Rec, Decomber 6, 9.80 p.m.) ' Sydney, December 6. About fifty rooms were burnt out in tho Hotel Australia.. The damage is covered by insurance.