COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3411, 30 December 1911, Page 11

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

A GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S RESI-

DENCE.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT! SYDNEY, Dec. 29. The Cabinet does not approve of Mr McGowen’s suggestion to allow the Go-vernor-General to return to Government House, and. decided to adhere to the former decision. LIMITATION OF RENTS. The Labor Council has decided to approach the Government to urge tne introduction of the Limitation of Rents Bill. It was stated that improve- | mens obtained by means of wages j boards had been grabbed by landlords, so that the conditions are actually worse than before the introduction of the boards. LITHGOW STRIKE. The Lithgow strike continues for the twenty-fourth week. .The men intend to fight until non-unionists are dismissed. THE OAT CROP. Statistical returns show that 242,611 acres are under oats in New South Wales. The yield is estimated at 1,715,000 of oats and 180,000 tons of hay. SCOTTISH AGRICULTURISTS. A Scottish syndicate, headed by. a member of the recent Scottish Commission, proposes to take sufficient land in South Australia to have 5000 acres under crop yearly. COAL VEND APPEAL. As apepals are likely to be entered in the case of all defendants m the coal vend prosecution, one will probably be made a test case. LADY PASSENGER’S FOOLISHNESS. MELBOURNE, Dec. 29. It is now stated that the Mount Dandenong coach accident was less serious that at first thought. Ihe driver, who was conveyed to Mel-, bourne, was the worst sufferer. He is expected to recover. The accident resulted through a lady passenger crabbing at one of the reins. COMMONWEALTH OFFICERS. The Federal Cabinet has decided to proceed with the acquirement of the Strand site in London, also with the erection of Commonwealth offices. MT. LYELL DISPUTE. A ballot to decide the adoption of the agreement with the Mount LyeU Company resulted in there being 10 for and 1 against. FEDERAL TERRITORY. A sum of £600,000 has been placed on the estimates for the resumption of land in the Federal territory. INCREASE IN CRIME. PERTH, Dec. 29. The Police Commissioner, in his annual report, states that, there is an alarming increase of crimes dus drink: 53 per cent of all the- offences committed arose through drink, compared with 47 per cent in the previous year. He urges more drastic licensing laws. A FIREMAN’S LOT. (Received Dec. 29, 9.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec.. 29. The Fire Brigades Board has increased the pay of the men a shilling a day and lengthened the holidays to a. fortnight, and also considerably augmented the staff of firemen by eight. PROHIBITED IMMIGRANTS. A shipmaster was fined a total of £I2OO for allowing prohibited immigrants to enter the Commonwealth. BANKRUPT RETURNS. Bankruptcy returns closing for the venr show that 331 petitions AseiSe presented., 1