AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1922, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PAY OF WHEAT HA. .NDLEKS. By Telegraph.—Press Awn.—Copyright. Sydney, Dec. 31. An agreement has been reached between wheat handling firms and the Australian Workers’ Union, under which lumpers, lifters and truckers receive 22s 6d and other labor 17s 6d per day for a 44-hour week. AUSTRALIAN INDEBTEDNESS. Sydney, Dec. -31. Australia’s debts, including Federal, States’ and municipal, total £828,000,000, or £152 12s 2d per head of- the population. DUNTROON COLLEGE.. \ . Sydney, Dec. 31. The declining popularity of Duntroon Military College is causing- anxiety; It is suggested that the college should be converted into a public school. new term begins in February 45 cadets will be in training, of whom 44 Mve spent one to three years there. The college represents an annual output in the next four years of 14 boys to take up staff duties at a cost to the taxpayer of well over £4OOO per head. At the present rate of decline it is estimated there will be no applications in 1924. The college costs £60,000 a year. The decline is stated to be due to parents realising the laek of prospects in the military service. LABOR AND THE ARMY. Sydney, Dec. 31. The Australian Labor Party, in a final re-draft of the Federal platform, desires to cultivate a democratic spirit in the army by the abolition of the solute and military oaths, no distinction between commissioned and non-commis-sioned officers, no employment or interference by soldiers in industrial disputes, punishment of Ministers responsible for breaches of the latter, citizens on completion of training to retain their arms, and no raising of forces for service outside the Commonwealth without a decision by the people. LIVES LOST IN FLOODS. Sydney, Dec. 31. Torrential downpours have been recorded during the past few days in the northern, table-land in' south-eastern Queensland. Extensive floods in both States have entailed loss of life in several instances and considerable damage to crops. LITHGOW WORKS RESUME. Sydney, Dec. 31. The whole of the Lithgow works will be re-opened on Tuesday, comprising Government works, railway extensions, railway coal mine. Hoskins are also re-starting the small arms factory, but not until the following week.