AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2599, 22 October 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

WEST AUSTRALIAN LOAN ESTI« MATES. THE PROBABLE SHORTAGE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Porth, October 21.. In tlie Assembly, the Premier (the Hon. J. Scadden), in introducing the loan estimates, said West Australia had received last .year £2,610,245 in loan money, including £1,808,331 in a Common wealth loan. A credit of £1,189,524 was carried forward from tho previous year. T'lio Government had spent £2,521,508, and there remained (i credit to the General Loan Fund of £1,278,341. The estimated expenditure for the ourrcnt year was £210,331 (?). and the estimated shortage would bo £830,000. SOLDIERS ESCAPE FROM ISOLATION CAMP. NINETEEN CAUGHT AND TRIED BY COURT-MARTIAL. Melbourne, October 21. On being refused permission to visit tlhe City, between sixty and seventy soldiers broke away from the camp where they had been isolated for treatment. An armed guard stopped the train, and nineteen of the escapees wore captured and court-martiallcd. • LIQUOR RESTRICTION BILL IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 'ASSEMBLY VOTE IGNORED. (Rec. October 21, 9.30 p.m.) ' Sydney, October 20. In tho State Assembly, Mr. D. R. Hall (Attorney-General) gave notice of a. Bill restricting hotel hours from eieht in the morning till ten at night.. Pro-' vjously tho 'hours were from sis till eleven. The Bill also provides that instead of beinn allowed to purchase liquor during six hours on Good Friday and Christmas Day to consume off the promises, tho time-limit will bo four hours oh these da»s, and consumption on the promises. .■ There is much Press and public criticism of tho Government for ignoring the Assembly's vote in favour of nino o'clock closing, and the futility of short, ening the night drinking hours only. IRRIGATION SETTLEMENT AREAS. AN ADVERSE REPORT. Sydney, October 20. The report of Mr. Carmicbael, aB Royal Commissioner, on the inguiry : into the, working of the Murrumbidgee irrigation areas, discloses a loss_ of . £15,000 in the Government business . : undertaking. A large percentage of the settlers were heavily m arrears. He makes a number of suggestions for a better management of affairs, and tho i recasting of tho conditions of settleI ment, and the system of advances, which i total over £123,000. EARLY CLOSING OF HOTEL BARS. LABOUR CAUCUS APPROVES OF. LEGISLATION. Sydney, October 20. A Labour caucus approved a proposal . to introduce a Bill th;s session proudI ing for the opening of the hotels at t j o'clock and closing them at 10. ITEMS IN BRIEF. STATE SEIZES BIG SHEEP CON-. SIGNMENT. Brisbane, October 21. Under the provisions of the Meat Ac-quisition-Act, the Government has taken , over 7000 sheep, owing to the belief that the sheep had been sold on conI signment to New South .fl ales Meat , Works. . ■ " ■