AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

ADSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

N.S.W. POLITICS.

sm JOHN FULLER’S POLICY

(Received This Day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 22

Sir J. Fuller delivered a policy speech at Wollongong to-night. He said the public affairs of the State were drifting from bad to worse. Industries were languishing on account of heavy taxation and heavier was threatened. His policy would he to attend the .root causes of the trouble rather than find palliatives. Ho proposed to carry out a policy of decentralisation, the construction of cross-country railways, and opening of new ports. He advocated a joint Federal and State action to develop and settle crown lands. His party also favoured closer settlement improved methods of agriculture and encouragement of settlers from overseas. Largp, landholders must produce or subdivide and sell on equitable terms. He proposed to form voluntary wheat pools and carry out schemes of reafforestation, initiate a. hydro-electric scheme and favoured a uniform gauge. Taxation of primary producer would be based on the average return covering five years. He proposed to abolish the Board of Trade and leave the fixing of n living wage to tribunals of employers and workers, which also would decide the number of hours to be worked weekly. He would not proceed with the Motherhood Scheme as the obliga-

tion to support their children belonged to parents. He would devise a scheme of housing and providing financial assistance. The Upper House would be reformed by reducing the number of members with a fixed instead of a life tenure. Proportional voting would he continued, and members and ministers’ salaries reduced by £275 sterling per year.

WHEAT POO!, PROPOSAL. ’Received This Day at 11.30 a.in.) SYDNEY, Feb. 21. A. K. Nethownn, a Legislative Councillor, President of the Farmers Federal organisation, is sailing for London, Canada and United States on Ist March, consulting representatives of wheat organisations abroad with a view to establishing a gigantic worldwide wheat pool for the purposes of marketing and controlling the crops of the nations mentioned. It is denied that the proposal is a corner in the sense usually understood in commterciul circles. A RAILWAY THREAT. SYDNEY, Feb. 21 The Australian Railway Union threatens to start a regulation strike, if Government refuses to ignore Justice Edmund’s reports. Tin's means that the travelling public will be subjected to irritating disabilities through the adherence to impracticable regulations. AN ENQUIRY. SYDNEY, Feb. 21. Mr f) ok-y announced chat Government is sending a Commissioner to America to investigate prohibition questions. HEAVY FLOODS. SYDNEY, Feb. 21. A Cairns message states there is no abatement in the floods, 'ivaflic i:i some centres is entirely disorganised. The rainfall was phenomenal. BUTTER POOL. SYDNEY, Eeb. 21 A deputation of dairy larmers asked Mr Theodore to form a hotter pool as F}d per' pound, Ino price since decontrolling, was insufficient to support the industry. Mr Theodore promis’d the legislation desired, if the farmers themselves showed tl'iey wanted it.

THE TIRTSCHKE TRAGEDY. .MELBOURNE, Feh 21. At the hearing of the Tirtsehke case, Frank Upton deposed he went to Posse’s saloon at one o’clock in the morning on the day the body was discovered. Finding the door unfastened, he entered and heard a woman’s voice say “Oh I my God, darling, how are we going to get rid of her.” Ross said : “There’s somebody here” and rushed at witness like a lunatic. Upton asked for a bottle of whip and Ross gave him a bottle and pushed him out in a hurry, and failed to take payment. Witness alleged lie saw stains which he believed to be blood, on Ross’s hands and on the towel lip. was carrying. lie afterwards found blood stains on the wine bottle WORKS CLOSE. ADELAIDE, Feb. 21. The copper smelting works at Wallaroo linvp ceased. Tile blast iurnaco and converter plants are stopped and many persons are rendered idle.