296

THE BRITISH EMPIRE : — AUSTRALIA

The total public debt of the Australian States on 30th June, 1912, was about 273,300,000(5. The sinking funds amounted to 5,790,000Z., tjiving a net debt of about 267,500,000Z.

The following summarises the Federal Government position in respect to indebtedness : —

1901 1911

Population.

3,773,801 4,455,005

London Debts.

Local Debts.

£ 175,000,000 193,000.000

£ 28,700,000 79,700,000

Total Debts.

£ 203,700,000 272,700,000

Invalid and Old Age Pensions.

The Invalid and Old Age Pension Acts provide for the payment of invalid and old age pensions at such rates as the Commissioner deciding the question deems sufficient, but so that the amount shall not exceed 26/. a year, nor the pensioner's whole income (including the pension) exceed 52Z. a year. Old age pensions are granted u})on application to persons who are at least 65 years of age and have lived in Australia or ./Australian territory at least 20 years. Invalid pensions are granted to persons who have lived at least 5 years in Australia, have there become incapacitated, and have no other sufficient means of support. On October 9, 1912, a Maternity Bill was passed providing for the payment of a bonus up to a maximum amount of 51. in respect of every child born in Australia of white parentage. The disbursements for old age pensions were 1,497,330/. in 1909-10; 1,874,489/. in 1910-11; and 2,155,481/. in 1911-12. The estimate for 1912-13 is 2,414,000/. The maternity allowance is estimated in 1912-13 at 400,000/. The numbers of pensioners in the Commonwealth on the 13th December, 1912, were .-—Old age, 80,206; invalid, 11,907; total, 92,113.

Defence.

AUMY.

The principal ports of the States are protected by fortifications, and forts have been erected at King George's Sound and Thursday Island. The military forces of the various States on June 30, 1912 Avere : —

ZK

i

Reserve of

State

Perma- nent

C3 (D

o

Citizen soldiers

Volun- teers

Rifle Senior clubs Cadets

Officers and unattached

Total

135

5

1

list.

Central Administration

1

140

New South Wales

737

73

7,31G

37

12,580 34,327

871

55,441

Victoria

645

(53

6,154

34

17,026

29,424

468

53,814

Queensland

293

28

3,027

9

9,437

12,025

285

25,104

South Australia .

134

22

1,693

20

5,421

9,191

136

10,617

Western Australia

181

15

1.245

10

4,510

3,997

111

10,069

Tasmania .

110

12 213

1,687

11 121

1,647 50,621

3,313

83

6,863

Total

2,235

21,127

92,277

1,454

168,0-1 R

The year 1911 saw the commencement of the new defence scheme adopted by the Australian Government on the basis of Lord Kitchener's recom- mendations. The Defence Act of 1903, amended by the Acts of 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912, imposes a system of compulsory training, beginning with cadets of 12 to 18 years of age (junior and senior), followed by 1 year in

th3 Citizen Forces a.s recruits, after Ayhich tlio men remain as soldiers