AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

NE w SOUT H W A I.ICS l-'J N ANCICS. SYDNEY, September 21. According to the Auditor-General’s report the landed debt at the 30th dune was c2l 11.792..421'), an increase ot tr.fi27.355, during the year. In addition there is the unfunded debt and other obligations making the total State debt £217,809.17(1. The interest paid on the public debt during the year was L'9.997.8.47, with further interest payments of £801,1)82, on advances and moneys temporarily in possession of the Treasury. STATE AND FEDERAL FINANCING SYDNEY, September 24. A Royal Commission which was appointed to consider the cfleet ol the Eedera I ion upon the financial position of tiie States of Aiistarlia. reports that neither Wcstraliu nor any other Stale

has a just grievance or is entitled to complain on account ol the procedure which has been followed during the past seventeen years, of transferring a certain portion ol revenue to trust funds to meet future expenditure for purposes of appropriations previously made by I’ailiameiit. The Commission was unable to re-

commend a claim for compensation to the gold producers which would involve payment to those producers of three million sterling. It also rejected the State Advisory Commit tee’s claim for ,£2.(i00.000 for alleged loss to the State due to the Commonwealth's action. The Commission recommended thal the membership of the Senate lie increased by 3(i to 48 representatives to approximately Kill; that the Constitution Act he amended to provide that Senators lie chosen lor a term of ten year.-, ami that the representatives eon

tin.ue lor a period of five years Iron the first meeting, but may be dissolve' sooner hv the Governor-General.

WOOL SALES. BRISBANE. September 21. At the. wool sales competition was keen. Greasy sold at 27.1 d. scoured to Kid. SALARY -25 GUINEAS A DAY. Melbourne. September 21. In the House of Representatives, in reply to a question M.r Bruce said the members of the Deportation Board were being paid twenty-five guineas each for each sil t ing day. TO SHOW CAUSE. SYDNEY. Sent. 21. Following an inquiry into the I’oihhiiry Colliery disaster on 20th duly, the Coal Mines Regulations Aid. calling upon the manager and iindeiniauager to show cause why their certificates should not he suspended or cancelled.

MRS MACEIF’S MURDER. SYDNEY. Sep!. 21. In connection with the murder ol Mrs Maifle (wife of the Spanish Consul here') ill .lava. Ales-rs Kirteii and Karnsliaw. contractors in the city, have received a cable from the International Credit Company, of Saniarang. stating that Bernard Kirton bail not keen arrested, and adding that the Dutch Police have specially requested him to remain in Sourabuya. because lie had travelled from Sinpup.iiv to .lava oil the same boat as Mrs Maelie. I hey have also received a ,-ab'e from Kirton. staling that t.'-e Dutch < internment had asked him In stay in case he would he able to assist in unravelling the mvsterv of tin* mnrde". ' WEI.TEVRODF.N. Sent. 23. A man named Kirton. an Australian, suspected of the murder of Mrs Maelie. has been arrested at .'-ourabaya aboard the steamer Tasman. Many -bloodstained handkerchiefs were found in his possession. Kirton declared that lie was the director of a large Australian firm, and that the blood stains were due to bis nose bleeding. WEI.TEY RODEN. Sept. 21The Attorney-General, in a statement. says that fact that Mr Kirton had been obliged to delay his departure for Australia must not lead l<> the conclusion that Mr Kirton is m anvwuv involved in the murder ol Mis i Maelie. I OBITUARY. ! SYDNEY. Sept. 25. | Obituary:-—.Tames Wilson, a member of the Legislative Council, aged sixtythree. NEW .PARTY LEADER. | SYDNEY. Sept. 23. Mr T. li. Ryan, formerly AttorneyGeneral. has been eleete.l leader of the Nationalist. Party in succession to Sir George Fuller. TIIE MURDER IN JAVA. SYDNEY. September 25. Mis Maefied whose maiden name was Sofia), and family arrived a num.bur of years ago in New Zealand, before goiiyr to Sandringham. Victoria. Marked was at one time on the stall of the Sydney " Morning Herald.” and was later one ol the lounders ol another Sydney daily paper. A SANE POLICY. BRISBANE, Sept. 25. Tn till- Assemble Mr -limes. Aliuisler of Mines, said that Australia’s policy should be. to establish secondary industries. Over production in coal. suj£mp and meat \v;is dan 1 a t'J*' that thorn were insnti'.eient r'< w, pie hart* to create ft market. He did not a*lievc that bringing people would i rente iiuoni|ilovnieid ami lor tbat leasui .1 would Urge o.ynmsnl ions radopt- a bold immigraiioii li-’bcy. >’• would Is- to the advantage of Australia. to accent a certain number ol people from Britain in return ter a retain amount ef Brilisb capital • " lie invested in industries here. Jones said he hoped the day wm.h eoine when the Labour tarty would wipe out the State Governments and have one National Government.

A NOT A HI.K PASSENGER. SYHXKY, September 2d. Sailed at 1). Id—Niagara. Sir Kruest Rutherford is a passenger. A HA' KRI ISI NG CONVKN'I lON. MKLBOFRNK. sept. 2d. Tlie Fifth Convention of Advertising Men in Australia and New Zealand approved of a scheme for the format ion of a better business bureau to be controlled by a board of management composed A>l' representatives of the Chambers of Commerce the manufacturers. the British Medical Assn., and the Advertising Institute. Other bodies are eligible for membership. The Bureau’s operations will be extended to an investigation of the shoplifting menace, the stimulation <>f commerce and similar functions. The Convention decided a committee should he appointed to negotiate with the advertisers, advertising men. publishers and others in the effort to form a National Audit Bureau of Circulation and a Bureau embracing all interest. Upon its formation the existing Bureau of Circulation and committee should confer with the Chamber? of Commerce, manufacturers, newspaper proprietors and report with a view to the introduction ol legislation on the lines of the Printers’ Ink Statute in America, which wa- framed to prevent fraudulent advertising.

ALLEGED STUPIDITY. SYDNEY. September 21. Concerning the death of Mrs Mnefie. a cable has been received in Sydney, from Kirton stating the stupidity of the Hutch Government was the limit and asking that immediate steps be taken to repudiate the statement of his reported arrest.