AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1927, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian <t N.Z, Cable Association.) WiItKIJiSS, 6YI INKY. Dec. Ifi. 'I lie conference of the Associat inn for the Development of Wireless in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji decided (<• send a telegram to .Mr Bruce requesting certain amendments to tlie liill which was introduced in tlie House of Representatives In enact an agreement between Amalgamated Wireless and the Federal Government. The President. George Taylor said a live year period in which no royalties would he charged for the use of patents for broadcasting should nl-o cover television and other important radio improvements. The Bill should ho amended to allow of inter-linking. The Minister of Health, Doctor Arthur. said radio as bringing country dwellers into contact with all sorts of influences that they had been denied previously and was making them more contented with their lot. Lisl uiing set's in hospitals lmd heroine therapeutic agents diverting patients minds from their troubles.

TASMANIAN RETORT. HOB ART. Dec. Id. A gloomy picture of the- present condition of agriculture in Tasmania was painted by Premier Lyons at an Agricultural conference at Launceston . Mr Lyons forecasted a big effort in improve matters and outlined a comprehensive scheme of agricultural education. Ho said the significant feature of the agricultural situation nas the decline in tlie niunher of small farms, and a tendency for holding-. to heroine aggregated into larger holdings, with a consequent decrease in the number of farmers. A steady loss of farm workers was a serious matter for Tasmania. "We are faced.” said Mr Lyons, "with a. declining production, loss of population. seduction in numbor of farms and economic diliii tilties leducing the standard of agriculture, checking improvement and in many cases permitting farm lands to revert l i a state of nature. The Government realises that prosperous agriculture is necessary for the weliare ot the Fiate. and with this object in view he lias formu-

la I ed plans to inrinoi s >|k_- - if* lists in nil man ho- .>* fanning rib be appointed to advise farmer COMM IBM ON’S tilt- T.\'"K SYDNIA Nm -Jl rile throes Commissioner- v. ho. under tiro Government's "Bill abolishing InCit\ Council are to have- control os. the City ol' Sydney, an- raced with a gigantic task KigitiCs reflect- tin vast- ramifications of tin* City G:>un-•.-ii. Take, for example, the Electricjtv Department-. Here alone is invested capital running into something like £9,000.030. with an annual revenue- of about £1,700,000. From the nubile markets-there is an annua! in-

com*- ot i-1 ”0.0 l it.* Nearly f'oO.flO'* a v- ar i - bii-- fill!- on parks. gardens amt reserves. The Council foots bill of Cl oo,ooo a yeui for the ele.m-,-ing ol i In- t.'ity <0 oilier rasl departments. there are a -wv or more. Take, again, City property. Tn the resumjvtion of land and bnihlings fin ] Council has "lose .in c I.oOu.Ou* * in j *e-i ') In- con 1 1 ol a to i Hi uliagC-lm-ii 1 ~i , • in it 1; an inprm'vo bind *'aiui- ot £lsl ,000.U00 ana with as many problems almost as those of a Central Government. will be no sinecure tor the Commissioners who. like Hercules, are to clean the Augean stable. The. Labour faction at* the T* v t Hall, with

the support of one or two of iho Reform aldermen, have not- accepted at -If philosophically the approaching the doom of the Council. The deathbed wrangling in the City Council in fad In been quite painful