AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 December 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. THE STRIKE WEAPON. BRISBANE, Dec. 11. Queensland Trades Union Congress decided to retain the strike weapon. A resolution was adopted declaring arbitration and conciliation as a method of settling disputes sluill not prevent workers exercising the strike right, when necessary. It also declared the proposed council of railway union was inimical to the interests of railwayinen and unionists generally, and invited it to disband. AN APPOINTMENT. SYDNEY, Dec. 11. \Y. Bennett, assistant curator at the Canterbury Museum, New Zealand, has been apopinted lecturer in Biology at a University in West Australia.

STATE FINANCE. ADELAIDE, Dec. 14

Supplement to the second report ol the special committee on the South Australian State finance, states much of the borrowing in recent years has been for work which had not fully earned interest on the cost ol construction. The difference had to he met by taxation or deficits. This cannot continue. as heavy taxation is already hampering the progress of the State. It is most important that loam expenditure should he kept at the* lowest possible level. It would appear that the fostering of secondary industries by liigli tariffs is tending to over-balance the situation, or, in other words, the primary industries are being increas-

ingly penalised and a position is created, whereby increased customs tariffs and arbitration awards are being continually raised to offset each other. The report states mining in the State is seriously injured, the butter industry lias fallen on evil days, the sugar and dried fruits industry is drifting in the wrong direction. It is true wool and wheat have remained without artificial support, hut the committee asks bow long can the State maintain its output against the ever-increasing costs ?

The report says the committee would like to emphasise any pessimism they have is certainly not as to the capacity of Australia to make progress, hut applies to the present mental attitude ol the Government and people ns regards over-borrowing and over-spending.

COMMENT ON SAMOA REPORT SYDNEY, Dee. 14.

The “Morning Herald” in a leadet says: “The report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the administration of Western Samoa is unlikely to prove of much assistance in restoring concord of those beautiful but distracted isles. It is a disappointing document. 3’lie calibre of commissioners is such that something more helpful was expected. Chief Justice Skerrett is no feeble legal rushlight, but a brilliant luminary in bis profession. His fellow commissioner. McCormack, was particularly well fitted' to apply himself to the Samoan problem. II may be rather that the anaemic character of their report is due rather to the rigid terms of the reference. If that lie the case it is to be regretted it was not drawn more widely, for more than tliO' personal administration of General Richardson was involved. 3’he whole system of mandate Government was at stake. The New Zealand Government and personnel of the Samoan Commission will doubtless find cause for self congratulation in the findings of the Commission.” After reviewing the evidence on points at issue, the loader continues: “New Zealand’s administration of the mandate lias in general been carried out with praiseworthy regard for the interests of the people and with disinterestedness. For what she lias done to improve their health conditions, Samoans cannot but be grateful, but the very rapidity with which reforms have been effected lias caused disatisfnetion. Attachment to old and harmful customs dies bard. Amongst Pacific, natives much tael must be brought in the handling of them. Tt is tact, perhaps, that the administration has lacked. Trouble might have boon averted bad the Government availed itself of the services of someone with an adequate know, ledge of Samoan traditions, and temperment. Whatever re-organisation may be considered necessary in the light of the Commissioner’s report, such appointment might well lie kept in view.” OBITUARY. MELBOURNE. Dec. 14. Obituary—Sir Henry Parker, a former Chief Justice of West Australia, aged 81 years. Tn bis youth be was a successful jockey.