AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 49, 16 July 1912, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CRIME IN NEW SOUTH WALES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, July 15. Tlie annual report of the Controller of Prisons shows a continued steady decrease in the prison population, which, at the end of 1911, totalled 1249, a decrease of 71 as compared with the previous year, though the population of I the State had increased by 55,000. The ratio of prisoners to the general population was 71 per 100.000, compared with 221 in 1874. He recommends Isolated industrial homes for inebriates, similar to those maintained by the Salvation Army in New Zealand. THE CARE OF THE CHILDREN. Sydney, July 15. The Liberal conference passed a resolution that constant and systematic care be given to children by establishing depots, furnished with a staff for advising young mothers and the home inspection of infants. In view of the excessive i mortality of illegitimates, special means should be provided' to care -for the [mother and child till some fixed period I after birth. The mover contended that I Mr. Fisher's bonus scheme did not guar- | antee that babies would be looked after. AMERICAN BEEF TRUST. Melbourne, July 15. The American beef trust is reported to have acquired 130 acres at Queen's Port, Brisbane River, for a big meat j export depot.

COMPULSORY TRAINING. Sydney, July 15. Colonel Wallack, military commandant of New South Wales, declares that compulsory training will be one of the biggest successes the world has ever seen. THE PRICE OF MEALS. ' Sydney, July 15. Owing to the rise in wages and prices sixpenny restaurant-keepers have raised their prices to ninepence. RAIN IN WESTRiALIA. Perth, July 15. Rani: has fallen in the wheat areas. There have been washaways on the Perth-Albany railway.