AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1915, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

UNIVERSAL SERVICE.

MINISTERS FAVOR THE SCHEME. Sydney, Sept. 13, iMr. liolman, in a statement on the Universal Service League movement, said that though a number of Ministers had joined the movement, they had joined as individuals without consultation. The movement did not mean that the, Australian tail would wag the Empire dog; it did not mean a levy of the whole population, nor even universal drilling. What it doi'a mean is the liability to be called on for service, military or civilian. When every allowojice was made it was evident thjt the voluntary system had not brought forth anything like the results achieved in England. If they were to have the full striking force of Australia manl•tested it must be by a. more rapid method. It must fye realised that they had reached the stage when everything must foe subordinated to the necessity of placing Australia's full power in the field. w A QUESTION OF FINANCE. STATES' PREMIERS TO CONFER. Received Sept. 14, 12.50 a.m. Melbourne, Sept. 13. A conference of State Premiers. Svitli Hon, Andrew Fisher to discuss the financial requirements of the various States for the coming financial year opened today, and was adjourned, after a short sitting, till September 24, to enable Messrs Holman and Scaddan to attend. Several States are in pressing need of funds to carry on public works. As already indicated, no further direct assistance can be given to the States by ths Commonwealth, and the questions to be decided are:—Whether States should borrow individually, or conjointly, through the Commonwealth; whether loans shall be placed on the open market in London, or whether tEe British Government be asked to place Australian requirements on its loan programme. ANOTHER HEAVY TOLL, SEVENTY-SEVENTH LIST. | Received Sept. 13, 11.50 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 1-3. Killed in action:—Two officers and 38 men. Died of wounds: 31 men. Wounded: Four officers and 387 men, including Lance-Corporals P. H. Kelleway, C. J. Campion, and R. D. Chalmers (the lastnamed two both, for the second occasion), Privates J. IP. Smith, D. R, Borne, L. H. C. Riggs, and H. C. Stratford. Ill: Two officers and 37 men, including J. Mulcahy, in hospital at Alexandria. Missing: 214, including Privates L. Falconer and J. P. Dee. :... ■ = I