AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1920, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN.

[AUBTIIALIAN & N.z. CABLE ASSOCIATION']

Mil HOLMAN HONORED. SYDNEY, September 4. Mr Holman was entertained at luncheon by old friends and presented-with a. cheque for some thousands. AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. MELBOURNE, Sept. 4, In the House of Representatives, the Arbitration Bill was read a third time. Mr 'Cook, announced the appointment of a Royal Commission to report upon the incidence of taxation, particularly the equitable distribution < f taxation and harmony between Commonwealth and States; also the recognition of losses by farmers. ■Mr Hughes explained that the shipping combine refused to , pay rebates to the Victorian Government, because the latter patronised the Commonwealth line. The Commonwealth had refunded an equivalent amount to the Victorian Government to cover the loss. SYDNEY, September 4. Illawarra coalminers passed a resolution repudiating the coal .tribunal at present sitting in Sydney and urging its representative to withdraw. MELBOURNE!, September 4. A conference of railway authorities decided to proceed immediately with the third rail experiment at Locumwal The third rail will be extended to Victoria. A luxury tax, partly based on the Canadian tax, is foreshadowed by the Commonwealth, in lieu of an additional land and income tax. Telegraph rates may be increased and possibly postal also. In the House of Representatives, Mr Hughes replying to a question explained that the British Government disapproved of wool-scouring in Australia as it sold badly as compared with greasy. He disagreed with the British Government’s attitude and had convened a meeting of wool interests with the object of encouring the industry locally. BRISBANE, Sept 4. The Federal Government has acquired timber, sawmilling interests for war service and home purposes, for an amount approaching half a million. PERTH, September 4. Returned ISoldiairs 'have petitioned that land be unlocked in Murchison district.. They state twenty three million acres are held by thirty pastoralists. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. SYDNEY, September 4. The opening of the wool sales of the season is fixed for Sydney and Adelaide for 4th. October, and later in Melbourne.

Hooper (N.S.W.) beat Luft (Victoria) by 3,000 to 1,527 in the amateur billiard championship of Australia. \ It is announced that W. W. Hill, prominent ijn swimming and Rujgby circles, is retiring from all sporting activities for business reasons. The amateur status definition will tie considered by a. sporting conference on the 16th. The Advertising Conference adopted the Federal Constitution, the title being Advertising Association of Aus-. tralia and New Zealand. Arrived—Kanna. and Waihemo from New Zealand. BRISBANE, Sept. 5. Good rains have fallen throughout southern Queensland, ensuring a bountiful Spring. A ballot of the Queensland branch of the British Medical Association on the liquor refrendum question,, resulted, in 104 voting for Prohibition, and 32- for Continuance, and 24 for State Control. SYDNEY, Sept. 5. Mass meetings of the Unions of engineers, boiler-makers and stovemakers have decided that in future they will .not work on Saturdays. N.S.W. LOTTERY SCHEME.’ “ SYDNEY, Sept. 4. The N.S.W. Treasurer is considering a scheme for local loans. The consultation will be similar to Tattersalls famous sweeps. The prizes are to be paid in Treasury bonds, bearing interest at six per cent., and payable at tell years. Each consultation is to be based on a hundred thousand shares at os and to be conducted without recourse to horseracing. The first prize will be five thousand pounds; the second two thousand; and the third one thousand.

lii addition to its percentage as the promoter, which is to be computed a[t two hundred thousand yearly, tho Government, by paying the prizes in bonds, will obtain from the subscribers a loan up to one million annually.