AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 107, 21 September 1912, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE COST OF EDUCATION. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Melbourne, September 20. ■ The Minister of Education has introduced a Bill to increase teachers' salaries. The cost of education per scholar in Victoria is £7 10s 10(1 per annum,, the largest of the Commonwealth. REWARDING UNPATRIOTISM. Sydney, September 20. The Broken Hill Miners' Association lias decided to present cadets who are undergoing detention With a gold medal for refusing to drill. , PROTECTION OF FORESTS. Sydney, September 20. The Million Club has formed a National League with the object of protecting forests. SHORTAGE OF CEMENT. '■' ■' Sydney, September 20. The Public Works Department reports a shortage of cement; 20s to-21s a cask is being paid for small parcels of imported on- spot and 18s Cd for consignments to arrive. The department has secured twelve thousand casks of. New Zealand cement at 12s 7d duty paid in Sydney, and is purchasing,. for forward delivery, in Britain and Germany, over 80,000 casks at an average price of 12s 4d c.i.f. dutv paid Sydney. THE BEEF TRUST. Melbourne, September 20. Replying to a member of the Legislative Council who was desirous of moving a motion regarding the American Beef Trust, the Attorney-General stated that the Government had a man specially engaged looking into the law on the question all over the world. If occasion arose to stop the trust coming to Victoria, the Government would\ not hesitate to do ro. COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION. ' Melbourne, September 20. In the Victorian Legislative Assembly Mr. Snowball presented a petition with five signatures, asking for an in-, vestigation of the affairs of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society. Petitioners believed that the holders of one-tenth of fli" shares desired such am. inquiry. Petitioners desired the appointment of a Royal Commission or inspector to investigate. The Chief Secretary said 'he (had communicated) with the Attorney-General with a view to taking immediate action to have a preliminary investigation. If the At(ireport -showed there) was no truth and no foundation for the charges, it would be improper and unfair to'appoint a Royal Commission,! but if the company could not make a complete refutation of the charges a Commission would be appointed.