AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

AUSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FEDERAL POLITICS. MELBOURNE, Aug 17. In the Representatives Air Maloney, on bis motion condemning Government on the ground that it submitted to a --cret inquiry into the conditions of the shipbuilding contract, contended that by allowing the matter to be decided by arbitration, the Federal Government lost fifty thousand sterling. The debate was unfinished. When the House resumed discussion on Committee of Supply. Doctor Page moved an amendment that supply be reduced by one pound, as an instruction to Government to reduce the price of sugar forthwith to od per pound. The amendment was negatived by thirty-two to twenty-nine. Mr Maloney then moved a reduction of -ten shillings with a view to having his motion regarding the shipbuilding contract, moved earlier, further discussed. The motion was negatived by thirty-five to twenty-four, Mr Page and a number of members of the Country Party voting with the Labourites. The Senate passed a Bill extending the provisions of the Nationality Act to Papua and Norfolk Islands.

AUSTRAL JAN I’OIJTICS. SYDNEY, August 17. The Legislative Council read a first time the 48-hour Bill by 24 votes- to 16. It is suggested in. parliamentary circles that owing to Bairn accepting an amendment to the forty-eight hours Bill that forty-four hours continue until altered by the Industrial Court that the Bill may prove ineffective as the Court is likely to lie influenced by the fact that Parliament refused to expressly legislate foY a forty-eight hour week. PERTH, August 17.

Tn the Assembly. Mr Walker (Labour) moved a vote of no-confidence in the Ministry. The debate is proceecfiwg.

A.J.C. FINANCES. SYDNEY. Aug. 16. The annual report of the Australian Jockey Club disclosed that in the past vear the prize money has been increased by eleven thousand. The amount passed through the totalisator was C 1.261,633, compared with £1,230,861 in the previous year, the State benefiting by way of revenue to the extent of Cl 13,547.

FEDERAL BUDGET. 842 MILLIONS TN DEBT. MELBOURNE. Aug. 17. In the Federal House of Representatives, the Treasurer (Air Bruce) delivered the budget. Tn his speech he said the expenditure amounted to £05.106,- ()((), while the revenue amounted to C 04,895,016, leaving n deficit of C2IL--003. A surplus brought forward from 1921-22 amounted to C 6,618,327, and the surplus carried forward to 1922-2.1 amounted to C 0,408,422. The total expenditure out of revenue on war loans, and works, and lands during the year was £77,930.420, against an esti- ■ i,• 0 f C 80.897.632, a reduction on the estimate of 1*2,967,203.

The estimated expenditure for the current voar was £62,023,693, a decrease- cm lust year’s expenditure of C 3.08.256. The gross public- debt at the end of the year was £461,0i 0,509, an increase during the year of £14.300,484. After allowing for repayments the public- debt would he £341,120,778. which would he- further reduced by thirty-two millions, representing valuable assets and transferred properties. The combined Commonwealth and State debts totalled £842,366.331, cm which the- reduction in the- nett debt the Commonwealth and States amounted to £731,100,000.

llruce emphasised the necessity toi stable Government and sound finance, thus reducing eanital cx|>eiulituro foe development and primary industries, as through this means particularly, a reduction taxation might he hoped for. He added that the Governin'.lit was considering proposals for handing over the Federal capital to a Board of Commissioners similar to that operating at Ottawa. Bruce concluded:- -“There is not a country in the world whose present circumstances equal Australia’s and whose future is comparable with ours. ’

WARSHIP SOLD. SYDNEY, August 16. The warship I’yselie has been sold out of the service. She will he broken up. A MURDER CHARGE. MELBOURNE, August 18. Fox, cabled on 26th. July has been committed for trial on charge of murdering Mrs. McLaughlin. Both were attending a dance, on the night of the tragedy. Evidence was given that the clothes Fox wore at tile dance were blood-stained. Fox strongly denied his guilt.

RESEARCH COUNCIL. SYDNEY, Aug. P. A conference of the Australian National Research Council discussed tla wisdom of admitting works from ouem.' scientists and there was a unanimous opinion in favour of the termination of the ban fixed in Paris in 1918, by

which German and Austrian scientists were barred from membership of the International Research Council. Ft was resolved that the position he reconsidered and that representations he made to the proper authorities, in London, with a view to effecting a change, TfTCIFI SCHOOL FEES. SYDNEY, Ang. I*. Commencing in .January, a fee of two guineas per quarter will ho charged at public high schools in accordance with the Government’s new policy, with certain exemptions in cases of parents not in receipt of salaries exceeding £2SC sterling, or where more than two of tin same family are attending the school.