AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9163, 10 August 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN

MELBOURNE, August 8. Mr John Smith died at Farnham, aged 104 years.

CHINESE STOWAWAYS

MELBOURNE, August 8.

It is suspected that lately, despite the strictest precautions, Chinese have been finding their way into Aus> tralia. On the arrival of the steamer Prinz Waldema nine were discovered cleverly stowed away. Two others were found on the steamer at Fremantle.

ABOLISHING BARMAIDS,

HOBART, Augusts. The Assembly passed the Licensing Bill. It alters the hours of closing to 11 o'clock, and prohibits barmaids, except those at present employed. DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, August 8. Yacht L&men at Port Philip have offered to form a naval reserve for defence purposes. A body of three hundred men who served in the Boer War will also form themselves a corps, to be known as "Trie South African Reserves."

THE UNION LABEL. HIGH COURT'S DECISION CONDEMNED. MELBOURNE, August 8. The Trades Hall Council condemned the union label decision as against the spirit of the Constitution and inimical to the interests of the people, and asked that the Federal Parliament be clothed with powers to prevent its legislation being invalidated by a section of Judges of the High Court.

The High Court, by a majority, declared that clause 7 of the monwealth Trades Mark Act, relating to workers' trades marks, or what is known as "the unionist label," was invalid, and that the urron label was not a trade mark wuhin the meaning of the law. The Chief Justice, in delivering judgment, declared the clause to he an atte npt to regulate the internal trade of the States.