Vocational Training.

The vocations chosen by returned soldiers who have received vocational training in Victoria include clerical work, French polishing, artificial limb making, poultry farming, cabinet making, book shiving, fruit growing, picture operating, and wool pressing.-[Argus, Melbourne, July 19, 1918.]

Approval was given July 23, 1918, to a scheme for carrying on vocational training for partly incapacitated soldiers at State institutions. The scheme provides for the continuous training of at least 2,000 men at the 22 technical schools.-[Argus, Melbourne, July 24, 1918.]

Children of Fallen Soldiers, Scholarships for.

The education department's circular for August announces that 10 places in two educational institutions will be reserved annually for children of fallen and disabled soldiers.-[West Australian, Aug. 9, 1918.]

Community Settlement Plan for the Subnormal.

The Commonwealth ministry of repatriation proposes to establish community settlements where partially incapacitated men may be employed with advantage to themselves in industries suited to their capacity. It is expected that the majority of the dwellers in the settlements will be engaged in the national workshops, but provision will also be made for their employment in rural and other industries. Each settlement will consist of a workshop with housing accommodations for 100 workers and social accessories, such as hall, school, and church. The settlements will also contain the convalescent homes instituted by the ministry. The area of each settlement will be about 500 acres. [Argus, Aug. 29, 1918.]

Returned Soldiers, Employment of.

The department of repatriation has called attention to the returned soldiers, with varying trades, who are registered for employment, and has requested employers requiring their services to communicate with the department.-[West Australian, Aug. 31, 1918.]

Proposed Aerial Service Between Australia and London.

A company has been formed in Australia for the purpose of developing an aerial route for mail and passenger service between Australia and London. The purpose of the company is to explore the proposed route for landing sites which are to be approximately 300 miles apart. After the completion of the survey it is proposed to finance a company in London to operate the aerial service to Australia, which contemplates a complete journey in 150 hours between London and Sydney.-[Report of U. S. consul, Adelaide, Dec. 3, 1918, Commerce Reports, U. S. Dept. of Commerce, Feb. 5, 1919, p. 561.]

Unemployment Insurance.

An employment measure has just been passed which is still in a tentative state, and provides, in general, that a fund shall be created for each separate industry by contributions from employees and employers, plus a Government subsidy. Thus a number of funds will be created and not one big national fund. In any industry in New South Wales the Government can form an industrial council which creates the fund which is called "an equalization of wages fund." The State can thus double this fund. The Government provides the chairman for this committee and the committee represents employers and employees, while the Government administers the fund.-[Interview with the minister of New South Wales, U. S. Employment Service Bulletin, Jan. 24, 1919, p. 2.]

Government Settlement Plan.

Large tracts of public or purchased lands in New South Wales are subdivided for settlement purposes. The subdivisions are purchased by the settlers on a 33-year loan on easy terms. After a large tract is divided into community settlements, there is often a Government experiment farm located in the center, where a man in charge acts as adviser. Most of the farming is grains and fruits, also pig and poultry raising.-[Interview with the minister of New South Wales, U. S. Employment Service Bulletin, Jan. 24, 1919, p. 2.]

Land-Settlement Act, 1916.

Soldier settlement act, 1916, 7, George V, places the provisions of the act under the administration of the land board and land settlement advisory commission of South Australia. Advances up to $2,400 will be made, repayable in 21 years, at an interest rate of 4 per cent; $220,000 has been appropriated and 10,000 acres have been purchased at $22 per acre. Settlers will be given a perpetual lease. Training will be given on farms comprising similar land. By provisions of the act the board is also empowered to make advances for improvements, equipment, stock, and seed. It may also purchase land worth $1,500,000 per year. It is desirable that applicants have some capital.-["Work and Homes for Our Fighting Men," Reclamation Service, U. S. Dept. of the Interior, 1919, pp. 20, 21.]

Soldier-Settlement Plans.

Discharged soldiers' settlement act, October 22, 1917, provides for soldier settlements. Provisions of the act will be administered by the Victoria land purchase and management board and State water commission. Advances up to 70 per cent of value of improvements, with maximum of $2,500 will be made, repayable in 31 years. Interest at 6 per cent is charged. An appropriation of $11,250,000 has been made for this purpose. Irrigated lands in Victoria are to be opened

in settlements and 500,000 acres for wheat growing. Settlers may purchase their holdings in 311⁄2 years by depositing 3 per cent of the capital value and making 6 per cent annual payments, principal and interest thereafter. Previous agricultural experience is required before taking lands. Applicants should have at least $1,500 capital.― ["Work and Homes for Our Fighting Men," Reclamation Service, U. S. Dept. of the Interior, 1919, pp. 20, 21.]

Returned soldiers' settlement act No. 21, 1916, amended 1917, of New South Wales, provides for soldier settlements under the administration of the minister for lands. By its provisions an advance up to $2,500 on improvements is made to soldier settlers. Interest at 21 per cent of capital value is charged. About 1,500,000 acres have been acquired on which settlers will be given a perpetual lease at 2 per cent on the capital value besides water rent. Settlers must have six months agricultural experience, and education will be provided. Already there are 500 men on holdings, the average size grant being 50 acres. It is desirable that applicants have from $250 to $500 capital.—[“ Work and Homes for Our Fighting Men," Reclamation Service, U. S. Dept. of the Interior, 1919, pp. 20, 21.]

Discharged soldiers' settlement act, 1917, provides for soldier settlements. The provisions of the act will, in Queensland, be administered by the minister for lands and land court. Buildings to the amount of $2,500 will be built on each farm and $3,500 worth of equipment furnished, payment for which can be made in anywhere from 10 to 40 years. Interest at from 1 to 5 per cent will be charged, according to length of the loan. The sum of $50,000 for administration expenses has been provided. Sixty thousand acres of Crown lands have been set aside and 500,000 acres acquired by agreement or compulsorily. Settlers will be given a perpetual lease only, no fee simple title. Training farms will be established. Applications for farms can be made by relatives of soldiers, and terms can await their return.-["Work and Homes for Our Fighting Men," Reclamation Service, U. S. Dept. of the Interior, 1919, pp. 20, 21.]

Returned soldiers' settlement act, 1916, 7, George V. 20, provides for soldier settlements. Administration of provisions of the act in Tasmania will be under the minister of lands. Advances up to $2,500 are made to soldiers, to be repaid in 21 years, no payment the first year. Three and one-half to 5 per cent interest is charged. An appropriation of $750,000 has been made for this purpose. A grant of 100 acres will be made each settler on a 99-year lease or purchase after 10 years. Experience is necessary, and training may be obtained at State farms. There will be no taxes for four years, and loans may be made for clearing, fencing, drains, equipment, and seed.-[" Work and Homes for Our Fighting Men," Reclamation Service, U. S. Dept. the Interior, 1919, pp. 20, 21.]

At a conference in 1917 of Federal and State authorities a board consisting of the minister from each State was appointed to work out plans for advancing money to soldiers desiring to settle on Government lands. One hundred million dollars was appropriated for the purpose of buying land and making loans to soldier settlers. Circulars were sent out to soldiers and it was found that 40,000 soldiers wanted land. At the time circular was sent out there were 300,000 soldiers.-["Work and Homes for Our Fighting Men," Reclamation Service, U. S. Dept. of the Interior, 1919, pp. 20, 21.]

Government Factories.

The Commonwealth of Australia owns and operates five factories -clothing, cordite, harness and saddlery, woolen-fabrics, and smallarms. The report of the small-arms factory has not yet been audited, but the total output of the other four factories from the date of their opening to June 30, 1918, has amounted to $13,997,225. The total cost of operating these factories since their establishment has been $13,786,075, which includes depreciation of plant and buildings, and interest on capital investment amounting to $2,392,950. The operation of the factories was recently investigated by a royal commission, which congratulated the defense department upon the efficiency of the works, particularly the woolen-fabrics factory, which supplied the Government with materials said by the commission to be superior to goods supplied by outside contractors. The woolenfabrics and clothing factories have not only fully supplied the Australian troops at home and abroad, and the employees of the postmaster general's department, but have provided returning soldiers with civilian clothes at a cost, for pure wool, no higher than that formerly prevailing for cotton and shoddy garments.-[Commerce Report, U. S. Dept. of Commerce, Mar. 12, 1919, p. 1166.]

Unemployment.

To take care of unemployed returned soldiers, the Federal Government of Australia has appropriated $2,500,000 to construct public works pending completion of a larger scheme to provide work for home-coming Anzacs, along permanent lines.-[The Public, New York, N. Y., Mar. 22, 1919, p. 310.]

Vocational Training for Soldiers.

The Australian cabinet has approved a plan for the expenditure of $6,500,000 in the extension of vocational training to returning soldiers who were under 20 years of age at the time of enlistment.— [The Public, New York, N. Y., Mar. 29, 1919, p. 331.]

Shorter Hours Urged as Means of Solving Unemployment Problem.

As a means of solving the unemployment problem, the trades hall council of Melbourne have inaugurated a movement for the establishment of a 44-hour week in all industries in Australia. They

point out that the increased productivity during the war, the stoppage of work since the signing of the armistice, and the demobilization of soldiers have increased the unemployment problem.-[American, New York, N. Y., Apr. 14, 1919.]

Government Training Returned Soldiers.

The State of New South Wales will bear the cost of training returned soldiers for the government railway workshops. The step will be taken in order to replace men who are leaving the shops through natural causes, and also to meet contemplated extensions of the railway. [Republican, Springfield, Mass., Apr. 22, 1919.]

Public Works Construction.

A bistate scheme of public works construction, involving an expenditure of nearly $12,500,000 and offering ample employment to returned Anzacs, has been approved by a joint commission from the States of Victoria and New South Wales.-[Republican, Springfield, Mass., Apr. 29, 1919.]

Aerial Service.

A company called Aircraft (Ltd.) has been organized for the purpose of establishing an interstate air service which expects to begin operations in the course of 9 or 10 months. Regular aerial service, charging 2 pence per mile, will be operated between the capital cities of the Commonwealth. The planes will probably carry 20 passengers each and maintain a speed of 100 miles an hour. It is. thought that a commercial air service could profitably carry goods. at the rate of 1 shilling per ton per mile. This service would be especially useful in conveying garden produce and similar perishable goods. [Commerce Reports, U. S. Dept. of Commerce, May 5, 1919, p. 676.]

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

[See also German-Austria and Hungary.] Collieries, Public Ownership of.

An appendix to the mining law, which will shortly come into force, has for its object the giving to the central Government, the provincial administrations, and the municipalities, facilities for producing coal on their own account sufficient to cover their own. consumption.-[Neue Freie Presse, Mar. 19, 1918.]

Transition Organization.

In March, 1917, a general committee for war and transition economy was attached to the ministry of commerce. It is chiefly concerned with the Austro-Hungarian commercial and shipping policy in the transition period. The commissioner general for war and transition economy has published a pamphlet on the tasks and fundamental questions of transition economy, from which it becomes.