AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 161, 22 April 1915, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

I ~ - AUSTRALIAN MAILS. TIME-SHORTENING PROPOSALS. P.e»s Association —Copyright, (Reed 9.15 a.m.) SYDNEY," This Day. Mr Fisher, writing to Mr Holmau, with reference to Mr Nielsen's suggesL ed faster American mail service says the Post Office is already paying a much higher subsidy to the oversea mail than the circumstances of the Postal Department justify. Moreover, with cheaper week-end deferred cables h e considers there is no warrant for increasing the cost in order to soaure a shortening of time in transit. He also doubts if vessels for ensuring a quicker transit will be suitable for trade purposes.

AUSTRALIA AND FIJK A QUESTION OF CONTROL, : (Reed 9.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The "Herald" publishes an interview with a gentleman thoroughly conversant with the position regarding the rumour that the Commonwealth is likely to secure control of Fiji, who says that Australia will be well advised to leave matters stand as they are. The main advantages derived by acquisition would be control of trade, and prevention of any menace to Australia from the influx of coloured races to th© islands. He points out that the trade is already secured to Australia and New Zealand by their geographical position. The prosperity and development of Fiji is wholly dependent upon Indian immigration, and it is certain that if immigration control measures are passed by the CommonWealthy this immigration WouJd ba stopped by the Indian Government, with consequent disaster to the colony, as the Government would never risk a repetition of the Natal trouble. He declares that the influx of Indians to Fiji would not constitute any menace to Australia, which already had sufficient trouble in tropical development without adding complicated questions of dealing with Fijians and Indians to the list. Another consideration was the large amount of Australian capital invested in the group. There was over three million in the sugar industry alone, besides very large sums in cocoanut, banana and other plantations. Collapse might be expected if the supply of Indian labour were suddenly ceased. This would be a serious blow to many Australians.