Review of Retiea-s, l!7i'J'J. 



History of the Month. 



Hholo iif r,iJi"a.] 



\_Kmdiv Lent by Melbourne •• Pintch 



Admiral Shinamura and Officers of the Japanese Training Squadron. 



Mr. Seddon's proposal in connection with this 

 scheme to subsidise Friendly Societies, is well timed. 

 I£ any institutions deserve help it is these. They 

 represent the battle of the wise and thrifty against 

 prospective trouble, and form a more substantial 

 Dart of th^ nation's welfare than most folk conceive. 

 What with King Edward opening the central offices 

 '■{ a benefit society, and saying some congratulatory 

 things anent svch institutions, and Mr. Seddon's pro- 

 posal to recognise them as part of the bulwarks of 

 a country's well-being, Friendly Societies ought to 

 receive a fillip. 



\\'hat are known as the New South 

 The Wales land scandals are gradually 



rJTJ^^r h-S b-ught into the light. They 

 have taken a lot of draggmg, for as 

 a matter of course those concerned protested vigor- 

 ously against being haulfd out of the dark security 

 of their hiding places. Indeed, it was several times 

 thought bv many anxious spectators that in the tug- 

 of-war the Government would be beaten. But they 

 will yet succeed. The evidence has been as un- 

 savoury as one could even find in any country where 



political corruption is rife. It is a good thing that 

 in the Roval Commissioner, Mr. Justice Owen, thr 

 State had 'a man who is fearless enough to state th^ 

 conclusions he has arrived at. The inquiry was int. - 

 the charges of briben" alleged to have taken place 

 while Mr. W. P. Crick administered the Lands 

 Department. Applicants for certain leaseholds found 

 that the machinery of the department could not be 

 made to go without a plentiful supply of drivmg 

 power in the shape of cash. Mr. Justice Owen foune 

 that during the four years Mr. Crick was in office. 

 something like ^£60,000 was paid by leaseholder;- 

 in fees. What this money was for was a puzzle. 

 Clearly no agents' work could be valued at this sum. 

 Where it went after it arrived in the agent's pocket 

 was a puzzle to Mr. Justice Owen, till an agent, Peter 

 Close, told a sensational story to the effect thai 

 Mr. Crick put in his pocket half of the exorbitant 

 fees which Qo-se received for completing various 

 land exchanges and improvement leases. This stnr . 

 Mr. Justice Owen accepts, he says, because the storv 

 explains what would otherwise be unexplamable in 

 the facts proved before the Commission. 



