AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

4CBTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLK ASSOCIATION. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. (Received this day at !) a.m.) SYDNEY, July 23. Xu the Assembly Air Stafford gave notice of motion for leave to introduce a Bill providing for tho abolition of capital punishment for murder and tlie substitution of punishment in the first and second degrees, the penalty of those found guilty in the first degree being penal servitude for life, and in the second degree punishment for fifteen years.

RAIN IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, July 22. There is extensive rain in the Eastern half portions of the Western State. English Soccer, tea.m next YEAR. 'Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 22. I lie Commonwealth Soccer Association lias received advices that an English soccer team will tour Australia and New Zealand for six months next season. The visit will be tlie first occasion that an English soccer team will have toured Australasia.

A .FINANCIAL .SUCCESS. (Rec-.-'ved this day at S a.m.) SYDNEY, July 22. I lie All Blacks tour was u financial success, the takings amounting to £ 10-10. The ground expenses were about £BOO and players expenses and expenses of the tour nlxjut £ISOO, leaving a not profit of £1052. Tho Rtigh.v Union owed about £O3O at tho commencement of the season and that deficit is now wiped our. COST OF LIVING ENQUIRY. SYDNEY, July 22. The Board of Trade has concluded its enquiry into tho cost of living anil hits reserved its decision in re-

gard to the new basic wage.

LIBEL CLAIM MELBOURNE, July 22. Mr Flatten (Federal Minister for Customs) has issued a writ (Tainting £IO.OOO damages for alleged libel l rout the Labour daily newspaper, Sydney. BEGGING ABOLISHED. SYDNEY, July 22. As a result of the request bv the Returned Soldiers’ and Sailors' League, Cabinet has decided to abolish begging in the street by bands and also at annual sports. VICTORIAN POLITICS. MELBOURNE, July 22 Sir A. Peacock announced in tho Assembly that be bail been elected Lender of t-lir Opposition by the Nationalists Party. STRIKERS TO RESUME. MELBOURNE. July 22. Follow-jug on a Conference it was decided that the six hundred lalmurers on strike at the .Electricity CnmmissioMcis works at Yallouru resume work. SENATE VACANCY. MELBOURNE. July 22. J. F. Ilamin has been elected to the vacancy in the Senate. NEW SENATOR. MELBOURNE. July 21. The new Senator, Mr Hannan, is an ex-member of Parliament. and Federal President- <>f the Labour Party, lie beat the Nationalist, candidate by ■Hi votes to T2.

FKDKIUL (’A BIN FT CRISIS. .MKf.RorRNK. July 21. Negotiations lietwecn the Federal. Nationalist and Country Purlieu for maintaining the pact against the Labourites have .readied a critical point. Mr Bruce (Nationalist) and Mr Page (Cnuntryitc) made a pact, which however. inemliers of the County Party declined in accept holding it should have been submitted for con.sidcint.inn to the Party Indore acceptance, and they are now making certain demands on the Nationalists, which Mr Bruce declines to concede, demanding the part between the leaders should he honoured. Conference- so fur have failed to find a. solution of the diflienlty. The failure to reach an agreement will mean a break between the panics, the withdrawal of the Countryito members from the Cabinet and it- reconstruction.

AT'STRAI.IAV KNHIBITTDN MOOT FI). MKLBOPRNF. Julv 2:1. A meeting of the Australian Commissioners of the British F.mpire Fxhihitioii gave preliminary consideration to the proposal to hold an international exhibition in Australia at some future date. The opinions expressed showed the good results achieved at Memhley could he amplified by all exhibition in Australia of products of all countries, thus attracting large numbers of visitor-. The executive was instructed to make full inquiries and report on the matter. The Commissioners also discussed the question of the Commonwealth's participation ill the Dunedin and Vau- . nicer exhibition-, hut the matter was held over for further consideration.