AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1922, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE MANDATED TERRITORIES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Melbourne, May 16Ordinances have been approved empowering the Governor-General to sell iSnd for the fee simple in the mandated territories. Previously land was obtainable only on lease. Provision is also made for the right to search for gold, silver and other minerals, but not for shale, petroleum or mineral oils, which are exclusively reserved for the Government. The timber ordinance provides for the issuing of licenses for an area of 5000 acres,, for 15 years. It reserves to the Crown absolutely the right to acquire interests in land owned by natives. THE INDUSTRIAL POSITION. Sydney, May 16. Replying to criticism of the Government over the industrial position, Sir George Fuller explained that the Government had been in office only a month, and was unable to relieve unemployment by simply issuing a minute on the problem. He was communicating with the Broken Hill Proprietary, with the object of the steel works resuming work at Newcastle and other relief works were under consideration. The Cabinet meeting to-day would discuss Mr. Cook’s minute urging the adoption of the new basic wage. ' TRAMWAYS AND BUSES. Sydney, ' May 16. The Newcastle Council is considering the advisability of establishing a municipal motor-bus service in lieu of the proposed electric tramway, which is estimated to cost over a million. The bus service will cost only a quarter of a million. COMMUNIST SCHOOLS. Sydney, May 16. Mr. Garden, replying to Mr. Ley, Minister of Justice, covers much of his previous reply, and adds: “Mr. Ley has shifted his ground; He is unable to prove his charges against the Communist schools, and directs his charges against the union leaders, whom he accuses of inciting strikes.” Mr. Ley, retaliating, finally quotes the utterances of several leading unionists in which direct action was suggested if the arbitration decisions were unsatisfactory. FIVE-DAY WEEK FAILS. Sydney, May 16. It is anticipated that one of the first measures to be considered at the next session of the Assembly will be the abolition of the 44-hour week. Mr. Henley, returning from a visit to the State metal quarries, said Saturday had been converted into a day of idleness, or much worse. Nobody asked for it, and nobody benefited by it, the result being idle machinery, reduced output, dearer metal and bad roads. EXPERIENCE WITH SHARK. Sydney, May 16. While two fishermen were taking a launch to the fishing grounds off Eden a shark, pursuing fish, raised itself sufficiently from the water to topple into the boat. The monster measured 12 feet in length and five feet in girth. It was killed with the greatest difficulty. The winch gear was requisitioned to remove the carcase. DEFENCE PROPOSALS. Melbourne, May 17. The official military view of the defence retrenchment scheme is that the Government has framed its proposals wisely, and that the promise of peace in the Pacific has materially reduced the obligations of the Commonwealth to build up an expensive military organisation. The Ministry has been guided by two facts, first the prospect of at least ten years’ peace in the Pacific, and second, the imperative demand for economy. The Ministry cut its coat according to its cloth, and decided to abandon all appearances which might show an offensive, instead of a defensive attitude. UNEMPLOYED EX-SOLDIERS. Sydney, May 17. Officials of the Returned Soldiers’ Association state that nearly a thousand returned soldiers are unable to find work ajid are literally on the bread line in Sydney. At least another thousand in other parts of tfie State are practically destitute. The officials declare that the Government dole leaves them in the position of watching their children die of malnutrition or lack of medical necessities. They bitterly complain of ths apathy of employers and Federal Government officials.

BASIC WAGE. I Sydney, May 17. The committee appointed by the trades unions to consider the new basic wage has drafted a report of fourteen points, repudiating the verdict on the grounds that the Board of Trade was not impartial, and that the declaration was based on unreliable data. The committee Also objects that the wage was increased only once in a year, and has now been decreased twice in six months. The discrepancies between the estimates by Judge Heydon and Mr. Piddington in various items of the cospt of living, particularly rents, are referred to as testimony to the unsatisfactory methods of arriving at a living wage. The former specified 14s 6d and Mr Piddington 22s 6d -for a house with an extra room. The Telegraph asserts that the Cabinet has decided to gazetie tne new basic wage without delay. It also favors the abolition of the 44-hour week when the Assembly meets if Judge Beeby is not requested to review the 44-hour judgment in the in* terim. The Government has decided to allot £lOO,OOO for relief works for the unemployed. * SEDITIOUS SPEECHES RESENTEDSydney, May 17. Sir George Fuller promised a deputation that steps would be taken to urge the police to prohibit seditious speeches in the Domain. Complaints have been made that Communist and. other advocates are poisoning the minds of young people by insidious propaganda, which is both disloyal and blasphemous. THE FRENCH PRISONERS. Sydney, May 17. The French prisoners have been brought to Sydney. As the result of legal action taken on their behalf a 'writ of habeas corpus will be applied for. If the application fails both prisoners will be placed on the Pacifique-