AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1927, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cablo Association,] A SYDNEY AIOYEAIENT. SYDNEY, May 12. Several municipalities in and around Svdiiey. and also in the country, have lately indulged •" a " > ! il ing-cicaning which is an example of civic pride, ami of what ratepayers, acting m cooperation. can do indepeildeliiy oi their local councils.

Every municipality, oi course has its garbage service. Ihe garbage collection, if he is faithful to his trust, calls ‘regularly each week at every house, and removes the ordinary household ret use. Rat the problem tor the average council is the removal and (le-triuTion of ether waste material, such as petrol and other tins. Paddocks and vacant lands, fur example become strewn with rwebish. which, apart from being mTeusive to the eye, are a breeding place lor vermin. la these ‘•spring-cleaning” campaigns, eacli council set apart a week, appealed to the ratepayers in a irtetiuIv way to help it, and guaranteed', on its part, to do its share. It asked ratepayers to examine their promises thoroughly, and see if there was not something Which could be done to make them and their surroundings cleaner. It asked them to declare war in rats and mo-ntiitues, to remove all rubbish; to repair defective guttcrings and fences; to repair drains, demise stables, fowlhouses and yarns, and where necessary be liberal in the use of paint or limewasli. i- was ail appeal, shortly, to make their suburbs and their homes better places to live in. The (ouneils undertook of course to remove ae.d destroy ail rubbish free of easts. The results were almost magical in many cases.

DOPE TRAFFICKERS. SYDXEY, May 12. It is not improbable that, before very lung, the dope trafficker in Sydney, with his Satanic grip upon -so many in the community, will find his occupation gone. Ihe Act dealing with opium and ether dangerous drugs, and especially with the illi< if traffickers in them, has had the Royal imprimatur placed upon it. Ihe real sting in the Act is the formidable array of far-reaching regulations. These, it is believed, will give the trafficker and other offenders no loopbole of escape, and will bring Xew South Wales into line- with Great Britain on the control of an evil which is bv no means imaginary.

Those regulations, which are now under the mieroscope gaze ot the besL brains of the Departments concerned, are likely to bo gazetted shortly. ‘J lie Act and the regulations in conjunction with -the Police Drug Bureau, will, it is confidently believed, sound the death knell in Sydney of a traffic which has left on many lives the impress of its hitter curse. For oflonders under the Act, there is a line not exceeding £250 and imprisonment, with or without hard labour, not exceeding twelve months or both. Opium is reported to ho taking its deadly toll even of the aborigines, through the instrument of Asiatics and lower-class whites in contact with Australia’s dying race. The police in Sydney are acquainted with most of the dope traffickers, hut. until the regulations under the now Act come into force, they are powerless to deal effectively with thorn.

XOA'EI. RECRUITIXG SCHEAIE. SYDNEY, AI ay 13. A. novel scheme to attract Scottish migrants to Australia is now being propounded to .Melbourne. The proposal. which has already received official approval, is that 100 Scottish settlers who have made good in this country, should return to the native country and induce other Scots to emigrate here. The sponsor of the scheme is Air J. D. Alclnues, who has been quietly working at the project for two years. Two practical points he makes dear is that each member of tlie party must be of pure Scottish descent, and must pay his own fare for the voyage. He also emphasises that every member shall he a practical man, capable of talking from experience of the opportunies that Australia offers to new settlers. “Aleti who have made a success of farming in Australia.” lie says, “are specially fitted, to talk to farmers in Scotland about the matter. They are likely to he more successful than a lecturer because they will talk ns man to man, and answer any question as it arises on the instant.” Already numerous enquiries have been made by Scots regarding the proposed tour. When the party reaches Britain, the party will lose no time

in renewing .and making new acquaintances.. Knell traveller will tell the story of his life in Australia, and it is expected that each member ol the party will bring at least one new migrant back with him. After two months of co-ordinated work of this kind, the party will he at liberty to disband, members making the return trip when, and by what means they please. Prompt approval was given to the scheme by the Federal Government through .the Development and Migration Commission, hut beyond a small grant to cover initial expenses the Government will not he involved in any expenditure. A vessel will be chartered to carry the 100 members of this modern Scottish argosy, but should, as it is expected, more than •ICO Scots be forthcoming for the trip, more than one vessel will be chartered