AUSTRALIAN

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE AHAOCIATION. AUSTRALIAN BLACKS. SYDNEY, May 2. Giving evidence before the Commonwealth (Works Committee, Mr David Lindsay, formerly a Labour Administrator in the Northern Territory, declnred the Territory was a white man’s country. A white man could do a decent day’s work there. The aborigines could do much better than they were considered capable of doing. He regarded them as one of the liest assets of the Territory. They were intelligent, and could easily be taught anything but the black fellow never had had a chance in any part of Australia to make good. He suggested that the natives in the Territory, whom lie estimated to number 20,000 should be placed on -Melville Island, under the control of married whites, no outsider being admitted. There they could he taught agriculture, stock raising and other vacations and thereby he made valuable.

COST OF ELECTRICITY. SYDNEY, May 2.

The Citizens’ Committee of the City Council, who are investigating the causes of the high cost of Sydney s electric supply, state that to produce current valued at £350,000 in Melbourne, cost £24,000 while the production of £943,000 worth of current in Sydney, cost £147,000. On the Melbourne basis it should cost only about half.

STATE OF RUSSIA. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 3

Professor Meredith Atkinson has returned from a, visit to Russia. He thinks it will he ten years lieforo the economic recovery of Russia is feasible. The Soviet Government is inefficient and hampered by famine and relief work. The famine and disease has spread over thousands of square miles of country. He sleighed along roads lined with corpses in the evening, and in the morning had seen where the bodies had been stolen for food. He estimated that probably five million Russians would die this summer.

BUBONIC PI.AGUE SPREADING. , SYDNEY, May 2. A diagnosis to-day of three plague suspects showed that they arc suffering from plague. Two are from Botany, and one from Bedfern. All arc from new plague infected areas. There have now been 27 eases, and seven deaths in. Svdnev. MELBOURNE. May 2. The Director-General of the Federal Public Health Department, issues a warning against any relaxation in tin* campaign against rats. He stnlcs that so far the public efforts have kepi the plague from sweeping the continent, but miv slackening might undo all that has been .lone, although the epidemic is now approaching iis doss'. CANBERRA STRIKE SETTLED. SYDNEY, -May 2. The Cnnlierrn Federal capital strikers have accepted the Prime Minisfer s amended terms and have returned to work.

SENATOR’S SUICIDE. BRISBANE, May 2,

Senator John Adamson was to-day cut to pieces by a train at Hendra. H had been ill had health lor a considerable time, and it is staled that he thiew himself in front of the train.

BUTTER PRICE RAISED. MELBOURNE, May 2. The wholesale price of butter here has been increased hv 9s per cvt. to lSis.

N.S.W. POLITICS. Received This Dav at 11.30 a.in.) SYDNEY, May 3. In the Assembly the debate on the Members’ Salaries Bill was lively, and a decision was not reached unto Government had further compromised by deleting a clause which provided that payment should cease on a dissolution or expiration of Parliament. This assured them of full pay during an election and retention of railway passes. An acrimonious debate over the scope in the reduction of Ministers’ salaries followed. Sir G. Fuller stated the Government proposed to cut £3OOO off salaries in one lump, nnd divide the salaries of the twelve Ministeis among thirteen. He appealed to the House not to show a spirit of revenge against Ministers. Various amendments were moved and a stonewall developed. The patience of the Government became exhausted and at 8 o’clock in themorning a motion on its behalf for the adjourninentnieiit of the debate till the afternoon was gagged through.

A SENTENCE. MELBOURNE, May 3. Banks, cabled on loth April, has been eommited to a reformatory prison during the Governor’s pleasure. The Judge said he was satisfied he had been influenced by his strong willed, vicious companion. Maple. BICEF SUBSIDY. SYDNEY, May 3. Mr Hughes says the beef subsidy offered by the Commonwealth would operate immediately. The chiet stumbling block to a reduction in wages had been overcome and an agreement had been reached by, which wages will l>e reduced by 12s per week.

ORCHESTRAL TOUR. | MELBOURNE, May 3. | The Victorian guarantee fund for the ; Consei vatorium orchestra is enquiring j in New South Wales if it is liable ! for any losses on the orchestral toui i of Victoria. It contends it is not pledg \ ed to the present tour. ; LAND SETTLEMENT. j SYDNEY, May 3. j .Mr Hughes and Sir G. Fuller conferred on the land settlement scheme, and are in agreement on the essential points. The financial burden will he apportioned equally between the Commonwealth, State and Imperial Government.

AN ADMIRAL'S REPLY. | BRISBANE, .May :i. j Admiral Dumarosq replying to Mr' Hughes’ sarcastically said: ; —‘:‘ TI would not become me to reply to so great a pyin as Mr Hughes.” He added that! he did not want to say in England about! Navy, what he would not say in Australia, lionco his observations.