AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1928, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian Press Association.) SPEECH BY MR BRUCE. (Received, this day at 9.30 a.m). SYDNEY, July 27. Mr Bruce addressed the Chambers of Commerce at a dinner. He declared Britain should co-operate in the development of the dominions, while the influx of migrants to Australia should he limited to the absorption powers of the Commonwealth. Air Bruce hoped Australia’s small population would receive assistance in carrying the growing interests burden. Britain was spending upwards of fifty millions sterling upon doles. Surely then it would he worth while spending small sums in interest towards the provision of useful avenues of employment for men whose morale, under the present system, was being undermined. Indeed, only a fraction of the fifteen millions earmarked by the British Government five years ago for overseas settlement had been spent, which showed that the problem had never really been tackled, and disclosed a lack of understanding by British Ministers and commercial men, regarding tlie great possibilities and potentialities of Australia and other dominions.

BASIC WAGE. MELBOURNE, July 27

Automatic changes of the basic uago in four States occur on August Ist, owing to a variation in the cost of living figures, namely—Melbourne, Gd per week decrease; New South Males and Tasmania, Gd increase; M’est Australia, 4s increase. The basic wage in Sydney will now he £4 12s weekly.