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AUSTRALIAN NEWS

SPREAD OF BOLSHEVIST MENACE

VICTORIAN RAILWAYMEN'S

PROPOSALS

The agenda paper for the May conference of the Victorian Railway Union contains the following proposals :—

Approval of Soviet system of government aimed at by the Russians, in preference to a national assembly, based on geographical boundaries; a protest against the interfering of Australia or the Allies in the domestic affairs of Russia; the withdrawal of Allied troops from Russian territory; appreciation of the success of revolutions having labour as their fundamental basis; legislation by industrial organisations, instead of by politicians; and the granting of citizens' rights to railway men in respect of elections for civil -bodies and Parliament, without the lo3s of employment or privileges; the imposition of taxes, from j!5 to ,£lO, on tho passage money of persons leaving Australia. UPROARIOUS SCENES PROTEST AGAINST. BOLSHEVISM. Uproarious scenes occurred at a public meeting arranged by tho Returned Soldiers and War Workers' Industrial Union, heldTn the Melbourne Town Hall recently. The advertised object of the gathering was to protest against Bolshevism, "eligibles" and the One Big Union, but it was early made apparent that the promoters of tie meeting were to be confronted with an organised opposition. The proceedings became lively from the very outset. There was a large audience, including a number of returned soldiers wearing the badge of the Returned Sailors nnd Soldiers' Imperial League, and mnny women. Mr. W. E. Quirk, the chairman, said that certain promises had been made to the men who had gone to the war, and .these had not been fulfilled. The returned soldier was out for a fair deal, and how was he td get it? There were some organisations which said to the soldier, "Come and join us, ire will look after you." One such organisation was in Lygon' Street. (Cheers and hoots.) How had that organisation looked after tho • soldier when lie wns over at the front appealing for reinforcements? They had said, "We will keep the home fires burning while you do the h'ghtin? for us." (Cheers and some hoo.ts.) Now, when ffie returned soldier sought to warm himself at eome of those home fires he found that they had gone out. (Cries of shame.) Therefore, he had been compelled to form his own organisation. Nn resolutions were put, and the proceedings terminated in uproar. australiaTnavy men PROBLEM OF MANNING THE SHIPS. The question of manning the Australian Navy with Australians has raised a grave problem, which the Commonwealth Government has now taken steps tosolve. At present there are 1141 men whose engagements have expired or will oxpiro on June 30 of this year, who, under the provisions of the Naval Defence Act, were compelled to service until the termination of hostilities.

The Acting-Minister for the Navy (Mr. Poynton) stated recently that a canvass of the Australian Fleet had been inado, and only 97 men had signified their intontion of re-engaging in the Australian ■Navy. This meant that out of 1141 men. 1014 would' take their discharge. Many factors, the Minister said, might contribute to this state of affairs, ono beins that the men might desire a spell ashore after four years' service, and it was possible that many of these would routrn to the navy- after a time- But if. was also considered that one important factor was th 6 ■ inadequate rate of pay in the Navy compared with that of the man ashoro. The Government recently approved of the payment of a gratuity of £25 to men re-engaging, but this had had no appreciable result in getting men to stay. After careful consideration, therefore, a Pay Committee, was appointed by the Naval Board to consider the rates ruling in the Australian Navy, had proposed:' that general increases should be inado in these rates. The Government had approved of these proposals, and that the following increases 6hould bo made:—Boys and ordinarv seamon, second class Gd. per. diem deferred pay; ordinary seamen, first class,. Od.; able seamen, IOd. ; stoker, 10d.; leading seamen, Is.; petty officers, Is.; chief petty officer, Is. 2d.

is regards officei'3 it was decided, as a general rule, to pay Is. per diem over nnd above the Royal Navy rates.

Married allowances are to be brought practically in accord with the separation allowance granted to che A.I.F. Under this arrangement the scale will k> as follows:—Wife and no children, officers 2s. 6d.; petty officers and men, 25.; one child, 3s. and 2s. Gd.; two children, 3s. Gd. and 35.; three chidren, 4s. and 3s. 3d.; four children, 4s\ and 3s. Gd.; five children, is. and 3s. 9d.; six childien, 4s. all round. Thus an able seaman who is single, under the new rates, will be entitled to draw in pay .and: allowances i 3 Os. Bd. per week, which is übout the average that an ironworker's assistant ashore would make under his award.

The Minister expresses the hope that the new rates will have the effect of inducing Australians to make the Navy a career. ■ .

SHIPS FOR AUSTRALIAN FLEET

GREAT BRITAIN'S GIFT. The destroyers which Great , 'Britain .gave as a gift to Australia in February were built in 1917-18, and the submarines in 1915-16. *Tho official description of them is:— The flotilla leader: Anzac, 1635 tons, 36,000 h.p., 34 knots. Torpedo-boat destroyers: Stalwart, Sue. Uess, Swordman, Tasmania, and Tattoo, ' each 1250 tons, 27,000 h.p., 36 knots. Submarines: SI to Ss.and S7, submerged , displacement of 1900 tons,surface 1170 tons, h.p., submerged 1400,. surface 3600; speed, .9 KDots submerged and 19 knots surface. ■ ,The new vessels aro very much faster ; nnd considerably more tip to date than ■tho torpedo-boat destroyers that are now .ploughing their way across the seas to (home waters. It is unlikely that tho •■whole fleet will be kept fully commissioned after peace is signed. It is the intension of the Naval Board to endeavour to arrange for a grand review of the Australian Fleet'by Lord Jellicoe some time 4 v ring the course of his visit to Australia.

AUSTRALIAN TRADE W$H AMERICA

A RECENT CABLEGRAM. , Mr. W. A. Watt (the Acting-Prime Minieter) expresses doubt as to the correetness of tne cablegram (published in New Zealand) from New York 'purporting to give the views of Mr, H. Y. Bi'addon, Australian Commissioner, on trtj.de relations between America and Australia. lEf. Braddon was reported to halve said in* a speech to tho New York Chamber of Commerce that Australia wished- to iuciuaae her trade with tlie United States, but America must realise that Australia wiis unable to pay in gold for the goods purchased, nor could Australia export sulfficient goods to pay for her purchases. The United States must expect to inrest jncney in Australia, and purchase Australian securities in return for goods sokl to tho Commonwealth. "Mr. Braddon," said Mr. Watt, "is an exceptionally capable business man with very extensive ex|ierienco, and, in addition to that, he is an assiduous student of economics. Therefore, I do not credit the statement, cabled, and I am asking Mr. Braddon by cable whether the report is correct. In the meantime I may say that I know by conversations I had with the Commissioner before he left Australia that he thoroughly appreciates the principles of international trade, and is not likely to put' Australia in si wrong light before tho oitiiens of the United States." RE-EMPLOYMOF SOLDIERS COMPULSORY LEGISLATION. A further statement was made by the Now South Wales Premier recontly that the Government intended to compel employlere to reinstate employees who had left them for tho front. "While tho legislation which the Government contemplates will be general in terms," eaid iMr. Holman, "it is intended to pro-

teot decent and' patriotic employers from the illegitimate competition of those who are neither one nor tho other. lam satisfied that the groat bulk of the employers of this Stato intend to carry out the promises made to soldiers.- In these matters, however, the decent and well-meaning employer is at tho mercy of his unscrupulous confrere, and, unless legislative support is given to them, the patriotic co-operation of twenty-nino firms may he defeated by the selfish refusal of the thirtieth. Indifference to the common bond on the part of a feumen may ruin the wholo scheme, if it ia left to voluntary action. It must, therefore, have legislative support. Already resolutions have been carried by municipal councils in the State, pledging those councils to the entire adoption of tlie. ( priiiciplo of restoration of returned men. Largo representative bodies of other employers are also taking the same stand, and there is generally such a widspread adoption of the idea that it is obvious there will be nothing but a small fraction upon which to bring compulsion to bear. It is to cope with this fraction that tho Government's legislative proposals aTo intended/' nationalisinglhe doctors The case for the nationalisation of public health wns submitted to the Act-ting-Premier of Queensland, Mr. Theodore, recently by a deputation from the Australian Natives' Association. It was stated that the deputation advocated the whole of the medical profession being taken into the employ of the State, and tho establishment of a medical school al the Queensland University, with free scholarships for intending students, who, after passing their qualifying course, would pass into 'the employ of the State. Mr. Theodore said that the request involved a large order. It : meant taking over the whole of the hospitals, sanatoria, medical supplies, chemists, dentists, oculists, and medical and surgical specialists, and running the whole concern as part of the Government service. ■It might not lie a bad scheme, perhaps, if the Government could do as the deputation wished, but, for the present at least, it would not he very practicable. It was not a matter on which he could promise any immediate action, but it would have'the earnest consideration of Cabinet. MR/ HOLWs" FUTURE WHAT HE SAYS HIMSELF. The fact that some difficulty is being experienced in finding a suitable inaji for the position of chairman of the New South Wales Public Service Board, and the report that Sir Charles Wade contemplates an early return to Australia, have revived speculations in political oirolee as to Mr. Holman's future. Some people opine that he- -would mako an acceptable chairman of tho Public- Service Board, others that he would be ideal iit the capacity of Agent-General. Mr. Holman Mmself, so far as hia pnblic utterances go, desires nothing more than to lend a united National Party to victory at the next elections. Hβ clearly indicated this at the "hreaking-up" festivities in connection with the last session of Parliament, and also in a recent address to members of the State National organisation.

COMMERCIAL WIRELESS The Commonwealth Government has not yet come'to any decision regarding the proposal made by tho Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd., to erect a, largo commercial , wireless station for coinmunicafciiiff between Australia and Britain. The filial 'decision on the matter depends largely on three factors. There has, first of nil, to bo considered the question of competition with the Pacific cable, in which the Australian and other Governments are interested. Ascsiin, there is tho question of the advisability or otherwise of granting a private company a monopoly of such a service; nnd a farther ! point for consideration is the possibility of complications arising, in ihe event of ■war, if iiifflv-WHvar wireless stations wero in any l>ut Government control even for a few hour.?. The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Watt, stated tho other day that ho judged, by cablegrams received from the Primo Minister during tho last three months, that tho Mnrconi Company evidently wanted to erect full-power stations-ill Australia. The views of the Navy Department and the Postal Department in Australia, and of the Admiralty.in Britain, upon tho matter were being obtained before any decision could bo arrived at. tennislhampions R..W. Heath and R. Lycett, two Victorian champions with the A.1.F., who established their reputation in 1911, when they defeated tho strong combinationNorman Brookes and J.. Addison—in the deciding match for the doubles championship of Victoria, competed in the Allies' military tournament held in Paris on DeI cember 20. The competitors included the ! two French cracks (Aiidi-o Gobert and I Max Decugic), who won tho All-England ! doubles championship at Wimbledon in 1911, and will represent Fraaioe in the Davis Cup matches to be played this year. Aymo, who was a member of the French 1904 Davis Cup team, also competed, and partnered Gobert in the doubles event. England was represented by F. S. Riseley, who. in partnership with 11. Smith, beat the famous Doherty brothers in the final of the All-England doubles championship in IMG. Gobert and Aymo beat Riseley and Cartwright in the semi-finals, but were beaten by tho superb volleying of tho Victorian pair, Heath and Lycett, in the deciding match. A. B. Jones, the New South Wales' champion, competed in tho singles event, but was beaten in tho first round by Riseley, who in turn to Gobert, the ultimate winner. war"pensions In view of the general dissatisfaction of returned soldiers with the pensions granted to them for incapacity resulting out of the war, the Australian Returned Soldiers' League lias drawn up a comparison of the benefits received from the Australian and Canadian pension systems. The result shows that although tho Canadian on uctivo service doea not receive as much as the Australian he is much better off in respect of his pension. The totally incapacitated soldier in Australia receives £3 a fortnight, and in Canada _&h is.; where widows in Australia receive £2, a. fortnight, in Canada they get SA, and for every child 15s. Gd. a fortnight is paid in 'Canada. The point is stressed thut in Canada the pension is paid as insurance against disability, whereas in Australia, disability does not count, provided a man is able to work. THE FEDERAUAPITAL The following resolution was carried at Queanbeyan the other evening by a largo and representative citizens meeting! presided over by tho Mayor:— _ "'The citizens of the town and district of Queanbeyan hereby respectfully request the Minister of Home and Territories immediately to proceed with the completion of the Federal capital city to a point which will permit the Parliament of the Commonwealth being accommodated within its own territory." Mr. Cntts, M.H.R., stated that Labour re"arded as a great object-lesson to Australia the successful development of 900 Equaro miles of Commonwealth property, which would create a demand for the extension of public ownership and public enterprise.

SECESSION CRY FROM WEST AUSTRALIA

Mr. Glyim. Minister of Homo Affairs, 'reforrin"'to tho cry for secession raised ]jv n section of West says that it •is a fantastic and unroalieablo dream. The indiseolubilifcy of.fho Comintmwealth is proclaimed in Hid preamble of thfi Constitution. riioiiph tho power of repeal or amendment still lies with the Imperial Parliament, yet substantially an alteration could be oll'eeted onlv .tt'the request of tho Commonwealth.' and States, as prescribed in Section of the Constitution. Accordingly he'fibinks the. prospects aliead of tho clamorous section in West Austrnlin are hopeless. _________

Sir .Tamos Scott, tho president of the Liberal Association, Kflst Fife, speaking of i.iio defeat of Mr. Asmiith, said it was terrible—a kational calamity. Of the GOOD absent votors only 1301 voted What's the Inference ?—Mrs. Flatbush: "Iβ your huslWd a good golf or f" Mrs. Eens'onluirst: ''"Well, he doesn't swear, if thafe what yon mean."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190325.2.34

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 154, 25 March 1919, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,546

AUSTRALIAN NEWS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 154, 25 March 1919, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 154, 25 March 1919, Page 7

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