THE COMMONWEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 965, 4 November 1910, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH.

OIL BOUNTIES BILL. By Tele&rapfo-Press Assooiqtion-rtkpyrifflit. (Rec. November 3, 9.50 p.m.) Melbourne, November 3. The Oil Bounties. Bill has been introduced. It provides for the payment of bounties for tho production of kerosene and paraffin wax from Australian shale. A sum of ,£50,000 is to be appropriated out pf the consolidated revenue for the purposo for'throe years, commencing from July. 1 next, The schedule provides for a bounty of twopence a gallon on' kerosene having, .a flash point not Jpiver than" 73 dpgrees Fahrenheit, and a half-a-crown per hundred weight on refined paraffin wax. PENNY POSTAGE PROPOSALS. • (Bee. November i, 0.40. a.m.) Melbourne, November' 3. Mr. Josiah Thomas, Postmaster-General, in moving the second reading of the Post, age Bjll, stated.that he was anxiqus for it to come jnto operation not later , than April 13 next. He estimated that penny postage throughout Australia, would mean e !° ss of ,£400,000 a year. If the new rate was n o ' granted on inter-State letters, there would be a loss of ,£275,000, but if Imperial penny postage was also adopted it would'' involve a further losa of a year. Th« loss would bo made up by direot taxation,

Tlie debate on the Bill was adjourned. • CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT. Melbourne, November 3. In the House of the Constitution Amendment Bill 'passed its second reading. Mr. Deakiu intimated that he would not press his amendments in the committee stage. (Beq. November 3, 3.50.p.m.) Melbourne, November 3, The JHpuse of Bepresentatiye,s has caiv ried the third readipg pf the Constitutipn Amendment Bill, dealing with monopolies by 33 votes to 20. THE LAND TAX. 1 Melbourne, November 3, In the Federal Senate the Land Tax Bill was put .through committee with email drafting amendments. ' COAL VEND PROSECUTION, Melbourne, November 3. It is stated that the, hearing of the Coal Vond cases has been postponed till April next.