AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1920, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN.

f AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] POLITICAL. MELBOURNE, Oct. 8. In the representatives, Mr Hughes replying to Mr Tudor, said Government had not considered the Senate's action in rejecting the entertainment tax, but it would insist on jealously guarding the right of the Representatives to impose taxation. REBELLION IN NOUMEA. SYDNEY, Oct. 8. A cable from Noumea states that two native chiefs have been publicly guillotined for organising and participating in a recent native rebellion. price” OF coal. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) MELBOURNE, October 8. Air Hughes announced the price of coal produced in New South Wales and sold in 'Australia lias been increased upon the recommendation of the Prices Commission by 4 J- per ton, as from 7tli. Sept. PROFITEERING BILL. SYDNEY, Oct, 8. In the New South Wales Assembly the Attorney-General (Hon Mr McFernan) explained the Profiteering Prevention Bill. He said that it provided a new and an independent tribunal for profiteering prevention. iThe court would be free from political control. Mr McFernall spoke very trenchantly in referring to the Sydney Chamber of Commerce element. He said:— “These wealthy extremists and these gilded Bolsheviks are goading this country into revolution. Despite all the ■added costs the merchants are to-day making more profits than they ever were making. This profiteering they are able to carry on in a semi-dis-guised fashion owing to their wholesale watering of the capital share stock and to their reconstruction of many of theii firms. They are actually making hum dreds and indeed thousands per cent, or

the actual capital which they are employing. “The rich,” declared the AttorneyGeneral, “are growing richer, and the poor poorer.” -y . This .Bill, he said, gave wide powers to the State to act against the cornering of life’s necessaries and also again forestalling. - Mr Fernan mentioned that amongst f the necessary services included in this measure is that of the burial of th® dead. This had to be added because he has been informed that the undertakers are now making extravagant charges, • COsfoiTLIVING. SYDNEY, Oct. 8. The Board of Trade’s decision, increasing the basic wage by 8s weekly, has been issued. It does not apply to rural industrial and to certain country, districts covered by separate declarations. An accompanying statement „ shows that prices have increased- by 18 per cent and the purchasing power of monUy has decreased by 15 per cent, sines the previous declaration was made. / The statement adds:—“lt is possible that the pinnacle of high , prices has been reached, and that a decline will have started before the next declaration is due. When this occurs, and a. proposal is made to reduce wages, the • system will be put to a real test.*’ , The unionist® express themselves as disappointed. They had anticipated ji : rise in the basic wage to at least £4 10s a week. Some claim that £5 would be only a fair thing to meet the increased cost of living. .. ... .