COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3201, 24 April 1911, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

A UNIVERSITY TROUBLE

CUNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) SYDNEY, April 22. There is considerable dissatisfaction in University circles at the decision of the Senate to abolish the annual commemoration. Speeches made at the University Union compared the decision to that of a Russian ukase. Senators were as hidebound as Conservatives, their ideas not being in keeping with the progress of civilisation and common sense. EQUALISING RAILWAY RATES. The Government is considering a scheme for equalising railway rates to inter-State country producers granting rebates of 5 to 10 per centum, according to the distance. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. June 22 has been appointed a public holiday in honor of the Coronation. There will be 110 Bank Holiday 011 the Prince of Wales’ birthday. August 22 will be made a Bank holiday instead. THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS. The first batch of twelve boys brought out under the Dreadnought fund scheme lias arrived. After remaining for a time on the Government farm to gain the requisite knowledge, they will be found situations with farmers. THE SIESSAG ERTES COMPANY. MELBOURNE, April 22. The general manager of the Messageries Maritimes Company emphatically denies the rumor that the company contemplate withdrawing from the Australian trade. The present contract expires in July, 1912, Negotiations between the company and the French Government for the renewal of the service were not contemplated, and no one was yet able to say what the new agreement would be. AUSTRALIAN JOURNALISTS’ ASSOCIATION. (Received April 24, 1.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 23. A representative gathering of pressmen has decided to form a New South Wales Branch of the Australian Journalists’ Association. Officials of the Writers’ and Artists’ Union strongly opposed the proposal on the ground that the central committee would be in Melbourne. Already over sixty journalists have intimated that they are intending to become members. THE SMALL-POX SCARE. The Mooltan lias arrived, and has been quarantined. There is no trace of further smia, ll-pox on board. LORD DUDLEY’S RESIGNATION. MELBOURNE, April, 23. Lord Dudley states that home ties and private interests caused his resignation of the position of GovernorGeneral. not friction with the Labor Government.