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
