AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1923, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. BICYCLE'TAX. SYDNEY. August 8. Sir A. Cocks (State Treasurer), is framing a Bill imposing a tax on all vehicles and bicycles: in X. 8. Wales, the proceeds to be devoted to the upkeep of roads. .NEW ZEALAND SHEEP. MELBOURNE. August 8. At the sheep sales, 250 prime New Zealand wethers were among Hie offerings. The market was dull, with an (-using tendency. Prices ranged from 53s to 58s; extra 05s to 755. BUDGET DEBATE. MELBOURNE. August 8. In the Federal House ot Representatives Mr Hughes contributed to the Budget debate a bitter general criticism of the Treasurer’s proposals. NO .MORE GOVERNMENT POOLS. MELBOURNE, August S. Mr Chapman, at tho annual meeting of the Federal Fruit Council, said that there would be no more Government pouts. It was not the function of the Government to run businesses, but to govern. Since its formation, the lruit pool bad cost Australia, in three years, half a million.

SYDNEY’S POPULATION. SYDNEY. August S. The population of Sydney and suburbs at the end of last year was 055otirt. new HEBRIDES CONTROL. SOMETHING MIST BE DONE. Received this dav at 9.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE. August 9. In the House of Representatives. Sir Elliott Johnson, referring to the unsatisfactory condition or the. condominium administration of the Now Hebrides, said that Fiance wi-s assured great ascendency by the nursing of new settlers in the islands while the British Government discouraged settlement in every way. Iho only w.q\ to establish a legitimate claim to have tlte New Hebrides entirely under British control was by gaining a piopoudernnce of British settlets. The fact that the French population to-day more than doubled the British made it increasingly difficult for the Condominium l" be removed. ’J he position wa- (iiUiciilt, Imt something mtt-l he . Be urged Mr Bruce to endeavour to move the British Government t-> approach the French Government and s-.oouie some alteration.

PLENTY OF WATER. (Received this day tit It. In a.m.) SYDNEY. Aug. 9. In consequence ol heavy rains, the water hoard reports there is a prosfieet that Manly reservoirs will overflow the level. All water re-trmlions have now been removed. THE LIVfNG WAGE. SYDNEY. Aug. !’■ Air IVi.-bv, presiding at a meeting ol lhe Board V-f Trade slated the hoard's declaration of a living wage hi-l April reducing wages and tints cheapening Hu- cost of production, was followed by an upward trend in prices. lie invited representatives of the financial. commercial and industrial world to submit suggestions or criticisms on the phenommm to the Board which adjourned till the 21th.

SCULLING RACK. SYDNEY, Aug. 9. |* ; i< 1 1 1 on will start from scutch and 11 ad field will have seven length' lead, in. Saturday's smiling handicap. JOCKEY ( l.l'H FINANCE. SYDNEY, Aug. 9. The Jockey Club’s annua! report savs the slakes distriouted l.i't \(.il aggregated 91 I 1.21-8, being 911,0110 more than the previous year. Ihe amount which passed through tlu- lotalisator was C1,37-8,(111(1. an increase of Cl I 1.51H1. The State received .I fom the 10t,,, admission lax, and bookmakers fees a total of Cl7(>. I'M. Owing to improvements carried out at Warwick farm, a net deficit of Cl 1,93, was reported on the year’s transactions, reducing the surplus brought forward to C 125,1172.

TO RESUME WORK. SYDNEY, Aug. 9. Tiie Federal Council of the Miner-, Federation decided to instruct Unminers in three idle collieries on the northern fields to resume work, pending inquiries into their grievances. N.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY. Aug. 9. 11l the Assembly, in reply to Air Lang. Sir 0. Fuller said if the Government’s proposals were the same as last session il was because the opposition obstructed their passage previously. Government was prepared to listen to any complaints tanners made and to adjust matters where necessary, hut the opposition sought to have compensation paid, which had already been poid once, lie denied that unemployment bad increased. Ihe Department of Labour reported unemployment totalled ten thousand, not thirty thousand as announced. Government had merely reinstated high school fees with liberal exemptions. The conveyance system, previously in vogue, has proved costly and open to abuses. It was now on a business footing and provided facilities to the same number of children as formerly. Mr Bruxner secured the adjournment.

N.S.W. farliaaif.nt

A CENSURE MOTION

(Received this day at 12.45 p.m.) SYDNEY. August 9.

In the Assembly Air Lang concluded bis speech in the Atldress-in-Reply debate by launching a censure motion on the ground of the Government restricting educational facilities by the imposing of high school fees and the abolishing of free conveyance for country children: that the land settlement scheme was inadequate and unemployment had been increased by the Government's immigration policy, and the Government was not treating fairly t.ic farmers whose 19Iti-17 wheat was damaged by the wet season and the inoiiM< plague. Mr Lang contended that the Government's proposals, excepting 'for slight modifications, were the same as lead Uv the Governor in in- la>f address. MISSIOXER'S WIFE DEAD. SYDNEY. Augu-r 9. Obituary—Mrs Brown, widow of the late Revd. Doctor George Brown it Pacific .Missions fame. The deceased was a daughter of the late Revd. ,1. Wallis, of New Zealand.