AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1925, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

f Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] FEDERAL BUDGET. .MELBOURNE, August 13. In tlie Federal House of Representatives, Dr Earl Page (Treasurer) delivered the Budget. He stated the revenue last year amounted to £(58,854, 809, and tlie expenditure t0£85,830,433, leaving a surplus of £4,(509,529. Of the surplus one and a half millions would be used for debt redemption, one million for naval construction, and threequarters of a million for main loads development. Dr. Page said that after considering tlie expenditure to bo met out of revenue, the Government found they woulil be able to make concessions oil most of the heads of direct and indirect taxation. He estimated the expenditure for the year 1925-2(5 as £•37.458,580, and the revenue at £57,574,30(1, to which would tie added £(559,529 brought forward from the previous year, making tin estimated accumulated surplus of £775,243. The gross -Commonwealth debt at the end of June last was £430,947,592, and the .States’ debts were £592,202,487, and when added to the Commonwealth debt, they make a gross total for Australia of £9(57,197,(190, of £lO5 per head of tlie population. Dr Page said that, after considering the expetidiitlro to lie met out of revenue, the Government would submit suggestions to Parliament, for relief to the extent of £750,000 in indirect tux:i(ion. of £1,400,000 in income taxation, and of £2(50,000 in entertainment tax. The promised income tax reduction meant the tax would be reduced by 12.1 per cent, compared with last year. Dr Page concluded that the publiccredit had improved both at home and overseas, and said a bright, happy future was assured. VICTORI’AN POLITICS. .MELBOURNE, August 13. In tlie A’ietorian Legislative Council a motion for the adjournment was moved by Jion. Mr Smith, who made sweeping charges as to the alleged maladministration of the Victorian Police Department. Mr Smith declared that graft and corruption arc- rife in tlie Department, particularly in the Licensing branch, and he said the hotel keepers could break (tic- trading laws so long as they were willing to bribo the police. He attacked the Government for allowing a certain Police Superintendent. to resign, instead of holding an inquiry into 1 1 is conduct. The motion was defeated, lion. .Mr Smith then gave notice to move for the appointment of a District Committee of Inquiry. Mr Nicholson, late Police Commissioner, who was subsequently interviewed, emphatically denied the charges. ||e said that where any irregularities had been found, they had been effectively dealt with. The allegations against the Licensing Branch were unfounded. He defied Mr Smith to prove one instance of corruption, AUSTRALIAN COAL DISPUTE. SYDNEY. August 14. At a meeting of the Top Hands Association, held at AA'est .Maitland, at which there were representatives of seventy-four miners lodges in the Northern field, it. was unanimously resolved that in view of the failure of the Coal Tribunal to hear their claims, meetings be held on Monday and that members be recommended to cease work forthwith. This decision was reached without reference to, or consent of. Hie Federal Council of the .'Millers Federal ion now sitting. DE PIN EDO'S FLIGHT. THURSDAY ISLAND. August 14. Do Pim-do has arrived and alter refilling here departed for New Guinea,