AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1922, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN ANfr-N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS. SYDNEY, May 17 I The Committee appointed by the Trades Union to consider the nmv basic wage lias dratted a report ol tour teen points repucliiitirtg the verdict, on the : grounds that the Board ol J rade ".is not impartial and the declaration was based on unreliable data. The Committee also objects that wages were increased onlv once in a year, and are now decreased twice-in' six months. Discrepancies between f leydon s and Piddingtnn’s estimate of various items in the cost of living particularly rents, are referred to as testimony to tl:o unsatisfactory method of arriving at a living wage. The former specified lls C,tl and Riddington 22s (id, for a bouse with an extra room. I Nominations for the Labour selection for C'atts seat, include Mr Mcflirr ' exM.inister.) Sir 0. Fuller referring to the recent reiterated request by the City Council for a Roval Commission to inquire into civic affairs, states it is impracticable to appoint one for an inquiry for the whole period of seventeen years, but lie will acquiesce if a specific period is stated.

MELBOURNE, May 17. Mr Charlton has been reappointed leader of the Labour Party. It. is understood tin* unity is prepared to support Mr Watt or anv other section <d the House which will overthrow -Mi Hughes.

ADMIRAL lldz. MANILA, May If.

Rear Admiral Diifnari'Wj, laic cortimttnder of the Australian station, is seriously ill of pneumonia.

•RETURNED SOI-DIHUS DISTRESS SYDNEY. May 17.

Officials of the Returned Soldiers’ Association state nearly a thousand returned soldiers are unable tu find "Oik. and are literally on the bread line in Sydney. At least another thousand in other parts of the state are prat ti< ally destitute. Oflieials declare the Government dole leaves them in the position of watching their children die of malnutrition. and of lack of medical necessities. They bitterly complain of the apathy of employers and Federal Government officials.

DEFENCE. VIEW. MELBOURNE, May 17

The official military vie"' o'f the defence retrenchment scheme is that Government has framed its proposals wisely, and tint the promise o'f peine in the Pacific has materially reduced the obligations of the Commonwealth t.) build up an expensive military organisation. The Ministry has been guided by two facts; first, the prospect cf at least ten years peace in the Pacific; r.ml second, the imperative demand for economy. The Ministry has cut its (Oat according to the doth and decided to abandon till appearances which might, show an offensive, instead of a defensive attitude.

LAM) KOI! SLTTLKKS. KVDNKY, May 1(). I'mlor llit* now (ioiornimnt's land policy •: ml set! lenient development scheme, tli.' o-.vimis o| pi-i v:«lf estates that :tiv t it|i:tLie of providing for increased settlement me to 1)0 :i Ai d voluntsiily to siil: nit proposals for tiio stth-division of the estates and oloser settli inoiiL. In tbo event of the (internment fa ilin r to receive n -it ti> fa«--toiy response it is stated compulsory action is contemplated.

A I'STRALJ AN TKA.M'S REPORT. f'.NT/NKV. Mav 10,

The report of the manager of the Rugby 'League team which toured England, recommends in connection with future tours, that consideration ho given to nlaying matches in the Cnited States and Canada on the outward journey. ANTI-RAT CAMPAIGN. SYDNEY. May 10. A ‘'Clean the City” campaign, with the object of making a general cleanup of all dwellings and busiiiess pre-

shape i f harborage for rats, is now in full swing. The members of 28 City Block Associations, in conjunction with officials of the City Council and the Health Department, an;* making an ex. Imustivc inspection with the result that the City Destructor is likely be kept bi'.s.v destroying refuse, and the rats will have an uneasy time. The Suburb :n Councils in a similar wav are stirring up the ratepayers nd the rats’ nests.

l'X EMPLOYMENT. SYDNEY, May Id

The NTS.AY. Cabinet has considered the quest ion of unemployment. It, has appointed a sub-committee to inquire iiito the whole matter.

The Cabinet also has discus tsi the gazetting of a new basic wage. The Piemier stated that they had encountered certain legal difficulties. The ( inet would further consider the matter on Wednesday. A CONGE Krai lONA LIST'S OPINION. SYDNEY., May 17. In the course of an impassioned address on international relationships at the final session of the Congregational I'nion, the Rev Parkin said: “Let us proch'.im war for what it is; in all its stinking, starving reality, until men refuse to light. The Anzac speeches are mostly a glorification of undoubted courage and wonderful spirit of our soldiers. AVe ought, at least, in the pulpit, picture the stinking mad thing call ed war.”