AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

11l T1,1,}-.(.JtAI’II —CHESS ASSN*., COPYItIGHT. FEDERAL POLITICS. MELBOURNE, June 20. flio Premiers’ Conference is considering the adoption of a Federal scheme o! child endowment. Mr Bruce, addressing the Conference, said the Commonwealth’s attitude was clear. Tlie Government believed that such assistance should he limited to those wage earners who were unable to rear a family without unduly handicapping themselves. Iho Commonwealth Government could not accept the principle that par a is able to provide for their children id be relieved of the responsibility by the community; nor could it accept «ny scheme which would impose the cost ol child endowment on the general revenue, or add to tile existing obligations of industry, or which would increase taxation. He •suggested that a scheme might be evolved bv th» States in the direction ut fixing a new living wage, with ail incidental provision tor child endowment. Ibis could be done only with the assistance of the Commonwealth Government, which suggested that tlie discussion should he directed towards the desirability of arriving at a consistent and uniform system of wage regulation throughout the Commonwealth.

FEDERAL FINANCE. MEIJSOVRNK, .June 20

Alter the meeting of the Premiers’ Conference. Mr Bruce announced that all tlio States had carried a resolution that subject to further and fuller consideration. the general principle of tlie Commonwealth's financial scheme be affirmed, and that the Commonwealth prepare a formal agreement for submission to, and consideration by, the Federal and State Governments. Mr Bruce added that the Conference was in complete unanimity on all the proposals.

CKXTK.YA It lAN PASSES. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) ADELAIDE, June 21

Bv the death ol Mrs Marianne l'islior. who celebrated her one hundredth birthday in February last. South Australia lias lost its oldest colonist, and also the last living link with the ship Buffalo, which brought the first settlers to South Australia in 18.3(>. Deceased, who was a daughter of the late Sir James Hurtle Fisher, was aged leu when she arrived from England.

REPORTED CONFESSION. SYDNEY. June' 21

MacPherson's reported confession states lie had been drinking heavily for five weeks prior to the tragedy. He seemed mad and did not realise what he had done. When realisation did conic to him through reading the newspaper reports of Quin’s death, lie decided to return to Sydney and clear the matter up.

MEAT POSITION. SYDNEY. June 21

Mr Cramsie, Chairman of the Metropolitan Meat Industries Board, says the position of the meat industry throughout the Commonwealth at present is critical. Exporters have been carrying on at a loss for some time and the immediate future gave, no indication that the situation would improve. If anything the heavy yarding of sheep that would result from a usually severe winter, would tend to aggravate the depression which was not confined to any one State or portion of the Commonwealth, hut appeared to the industry as a whole. The small volume of btisinos that had conic within reach of Queensland Meat Works for some time bad resulted in a large increase in operating costs. The effects of the recent drought in that State would make the position worse, as the export trade would lie light. A similar position existed in West Australia, while in Victoria and New South Wales, difficulty was experienced in securing sufficient business to enable the works to be operated profitably. Only an organised attempt to handle the trade scientifically, and thereby stabilise it, will save the industry from disaster.

WOOL TRADE. MELBOURNE, June 21. At the annual meeting of (loldshorongh and Company, the Chairman, Mr Niall, said Australian wool is tending to deteriorate, and sheep numbers (without allowing for drought losses in Queensland, estimated at seven to eight millions), are seven millions less than hr 1891. The figures led some people to think tfiat industry was in an extremely prosperous condition, and certain politicians were attempting to introduce legislation to reduce the area of land being used lor sheep growing. The figures, however, wort misleading. OBITUARY. ADELAIDE, June 21. Obituary.—Sir George Brookman, one of those associated with the discovery of the famous Golden Mile at Kalgoorlie, aged 71.

SYDNEY, June 21. At the. hockey tournament England defeated Queensland 22—0.