AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 23 May 1916, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

WAR PENSIONS BILL COUNSEL 0? MODERATION. . By Telegraph—Press Association-'Copyright (Red. Hay 22, 10.40 p.m.) Melbourne, May 22. ■» In the Federal House of Representatives Mr. Higgs (Acting-Minister of De'fence), introducing the • Increased. War Pensions ' Bill, warned members against favouring a bigger increase than the financial position would allow. Australia's war. loan indebtedness by the end of June, 1917,- would be <8109,000,000. on which the. interest would bo approximately five millions. Besides this .£550,000 had to be paid towards the proposed sinking fund to extinguish the debt, and there was also tho interest on tho money which had been borrowed to pay Britain for equipping and maintaining the Australian troops abroad. If the Commonwealth were sufficiently prosperous in the future the' pensions would be further increased. CONSCRIPTION OF WEALTH. WHAT RESPONSIBLE LABOUR SATS TO AGITATORS. Melbourne, May 22. Iu tho House of Representatives, tho Treasurer, in answer to the Labour clam, our, for conscription of wealth, declared thai it. was impracticable. Rather than be forced into the: position of raising money without offering interest lie would resign his position in the Cabinet. ENGINEERS FOR BRITISH WAR FACTORIES. A LABOUR PROTEST. Perth, May 22. Tho Labour Federation is protesting to the Railway .Department to prevent twenty engineers proceeding to England for munition work. TEMPTING INDUCEMENTS. • Sydney, J lay 22. Vickers, Ltd., are largely advertising for skilled tool-makers, turners, and litters. They offer to pay return fares to England. \ LEAKAGE IN LABOUR'S WAR CHEST ; £600 EMBEZZLED. ■ Sydney, May 22. The Secretary of the Labour Council has announced that £600 of .the council's funds has been embezzled. THE STRIKE NUISANCE. CLERICAL STAFF AT NAVAL DOCK. YARD. Sydney, May 22. The strike of the clerical staff at Cockatoo Island over a question of payment for overtime has ended. Tho demands of the men liavo been granted, and they resume work to-day. NEWCASTLE COAL EXPORT EMBARGO. • RESTRICTIONS RELAXED; Melbourne, May 22. The agitation against the -Newcastle conl embargo lias resulted in Cabinet modifying its policy. It has decided to grant a limited number of export permits to agents of neutral ships. (Rec. May 23, 1.15 a.m.) Sydney, May 22. Tho Federal Government has partially raised the embargo on the export of coal oversea. Five vessels havo obtained permits to load at Newcastle. , ITEMS IN BRIEF. FEDERAL SMALL ARMS PLANT. Melbourne, May 22. Tho Government does not prop'oso to remove the small arms plant from Lithgow until tho end of tho war.