AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1920, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

( ACSTIIALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] FEDERAL VOTES. SYDNEY, Jan. 7. Tiieic is much disapproving criticism in both nationalist and labour circles everywhere over the Senate system of preferential voting, which has resulted practically in giving the Nationalists a monopoly of the Upper House, that is described as neither just nor wholesome. Labour is decidedly sore, as on the bulk ofvotes recorded, the party would, under the old system, have won several seats, which the preferential system denied them. Other curious anomalies are disclosed. Four New South Wales candidates forfeited their deposits including Garling (Nationalist) who polled heavily, but failed to secure the necessary primaries. There were seventy thousand informal-Senate votes in New South Wales alone.

DARWIN ENQUIRY. DARWIN, Jan. 6.

Before the Enquiry Commission, Barra tt askedvCarey, “Did not Gilruth try to buy the Northern Territory for a private company for four or five million sterling. Carey replied—“No, lie asked Government if it would sell the territory to a chartered company.”

Witness believed one of the essential points in the proposed company was that only white labour should ho employed.

Witness further stated Gilruth and other officials were fairly popular in the territory and ho considered the latter change of feeling was largely due to industrial reasons. Witness said he left Darwin feaiing personal violence from Bolshevik, Russian and other undesirable extremists. He denied that Gilruth made a practice of sending round a black list of people who offended the administration, in order that these people he debarred from all Government employment.

MARINE ENGINEERS’ STRIKE. SYDNEY, Jan. 7. a. -e latest phase of the Marine En gineers’ trouble is that the Union Executibe have asked the shipping companies to confer with them with a view to an early settlement. The Federal Shipping Controller has agreed to this providing that a Conference is held.

REFERENDA FIGURES. SYDNEY, Jan. 7. Tlie final figures for New South Wales in the voting in the referenda is as follows: For extending the Federal Governments legislative powers—Yes, 259,639 ; No, 390,296. For granting the Government power to deal with monopolies—Yes, 227,098; No, 365,657. Then nearly two hundred thousand votes were declared informal.

BOUNTEOUS RAINS. SYDNEY, Jail. 7. Bounteous rains over a wide gracing area have enhanced the prospects for adequate food, and has stopped the rush to the stock market which marked the drought period, ft rushed up the prices of beef on the hoof, which sold at lOd per lb, which is a record. Retail butchers from to-day advance the prices 25 per cent and many of them are cutting out beef as being too dear to handle. So far, the worst 'Western drought areas have benefited little by the rain. The'preliminary figures indicate that the considerably decreased mineral output in 1919 as compared with 1918 was mainly due to the drought and industrial troubles.

OBITUARY. SIR. EDMUND BARTON. SYDNEY, Jan. 77 The death took place to-day of Sir Edmund Barton, one of the Judges of the High Court of Australia, and formerly one of the best known of Australian political •figures. Sir Edmund’s death was a sudden one. He has been in indifferent health for some time. He was recuperating on the Blue Mountains and was visiting the Hydro Magnetic Sanatorium at Medlow." He went to-day to the Bath, which always is a Ingthy process and therefore no alarm at his absence was felt till attempts to open the door were made and failed. An entrance was gained at a window. It was found that after finishing his Bath, which always is a lengthy process and had collapsed behind the door. He died of heart failure. At the sad news there have been widespread tributes to Sir Edmund as a groat legislator and as one of the pioneer federationists and also as a lawyer.