Sir Edward Hutton took leave of Australinon the 15th November, travelling homewards per R. M.S. Macedonia. A Stelbourne cavalry. and. escorted the ard of honour was provided by the General sud Lady Hutton from Menzies Hotel to the steamer at Port Melbourne. Previous to his departure the General had made a tour of inspection and reviewed the troops in each State. last appearance in Melbourne was at the King's birthday review held on the 14th November, at which the Governor-General presented new colours to two regiments. At the dinner recently given by the incoming Lord Mayor, Sir Edward Hutton was very outspoken in his comments on the new system of controlling the Common: wealth forces by' Couucit of Defence. AS 'a soldier, Sir Edward maintained that the system to be adopted in war is the one that should be pursued in peace, and asserted that the Uouncil system will inevitably fail if put to the practical test of war. Such a system, he maint opens the door to political and personal influence. The Into @. 0.0, was not personally popular amongst military officers, but it must be said of him that the task set before him was no light one. During the three yerrs he has been in Australia he has had to unity the forces of six States, each attached to ita own particular methods. Tw federate all these without creating some small amount of friction is probably a task beyond the reach of any officer. Moreover the G.O.C. was unfortunate in having to meet so many changes amongst his political chiefs, as he saw no less than three Governments take office whilst his own particular Minister was changed no less than four times.
German Restriction in the South Seas.
PRecent events in connection with the trade to the group of Marshall Islands plainly show that Germany has decided to exclude British vessels from participating therein atoll costa. Burns, Philp and Ca., of Sydney, the leading firm of carriers in the South Sea Island trade have b this Fartiostar roup of islands. On the ubiing one of their steamers for some ime past regularly every three months to steamer's Gret visit t0 Jaluit, the principal port " hoary Heense fee was, demanded fore thejvessel was allowed to trade. The license, although a severe handicap, was "paid, as was the case on the next occasion of the steamer calling. On the third voyage the license was increased to the exorbitant sum of £457 per month, and payment was demanded in gold. steamer's agents offered to settle with a @raft under protest, bat this was re-fassed and the vessel returned to Sydney in ballast. 'The steamer engaged in the trade only of 500 tons' measurement. Repre-mutations were made to the central guveroment, and a strong protest was cabled to the Imperial Government. Under the impressive Usxt the two Governments would come to a friendly understanding the steamer was again plaredjon the berth to loud f islands, when the information was announced' that the German Goveroment had decided to levy a prohiritory export duty of thirty shillings ton on all copra shipped by vessels not registered at the group. 4s this tax was demanded in addition t" the exorbitant licensotfee already mentioned the practiex! result was to drive the Australian firm out of the trade, and the vessel is now laid up and the crew discharged. The above is very highhanded treatment as compared with that meted out to German vessels trading to, British Island groups in the South Pacific; these are allowed to trade on low license fees, and tact British vessels in Australian ports on equal terms.
Reliable idence is to hand that Germany is constructing what way eventually be utilised asa base at a New Britain An extensive wharf 1,000 feet long is in course of construction with commodious storage sheds, etc. These works are ostensibly being erected by the Norddeutscher Lloyd Company, but they are far in advance of the trade requirements of the island, and it ix assum case that the company are as the agents of the German Go The Restriction of Chinese Labour.
Premier Bent's promised Bill to amend the Factories' Act us applied to Chinese labour has been circulated. "The Bill relates more particularly to the furniture and laundry trades wherein Chinese competition is the keenest. The first provision that 0 Chinese whether employer or employe shall after the Ist of January 105, be employed in any factory ov work shop unless duly licensed by the Chief Inspector of Factories, who is given full power under the Act to issue or withhold these licenses. Such license is to have currency of twelve months only, and expire on the Ist of Janusry in each year; when renewal is required, such renewal must be made before the 3ist of December previous. Licenses are to be produced on demand by the factories' inspectors, or police, Ohinese employers are prohibited boarding "r lodging xny of their employes, under a penalty not exceeding £10 for the first offence; three convictions may entail the forfeiture of the license.
Provision is also made for stamping Chinese-made furniture as soon as it is suficien'ly advanced state ts be stamped, whilst penalties are provided for those selling furniture not stamped in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.