AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia A N.Z. Cable Association.]

SECOND SET-BACK. SYDNEY. Oct. IT. The Government, as anticipated today. suffered a second set hack at Unhands nl the Legislative Council, which rejected, hy 27 to 22. the Abolition of Capital Punishment Bill, an amendment Is'ing carried providing for tile retention of the death penalty in cases of murder in the first degree, tin; eases of treason, and for olfeneeagainst gills under 11 years. Ibis further aggravates the rift between the two houses, and will strengthen Premier Dang's bands in bis campaign tor the abolition of the Council. The Council read a lir-t tune the Ii il I for the appointment ol women members of the Upper J louse. EEDKRAL ELECTIONS. SYDNEY. October Hi. Nominations lor both House and Senate for the Eederal elections to-day -how a great majority ot the electorales will be straight out. lights between the Labourite and the Nationalist or the (Tnintry parlies. Cases ol votesplitting will be limited. AIR LAND ON THE COUNT if.. (Received this day at 9.-IT a.m.) SYDNEY. October Id. In the as-enibly Air Lang (I.aboui Premier) replying to questions regariling the Council's rejection of the bills, said that if the Council refused lo sanction a few more demiierntic measures the people would sec that it they wanted democracy, 1 la- Council would have lo lie wiped out and the sooner Ihe better. No mat ter wlial majority Labour bad in the Assembly it would never be in control while the Council could reject its measures. \\ bile a House of privileged representatives ot the idle rich, existed democracy would never he able to control its own des-

Asked if be would submit the question of the abolition ol the Council to a referendum. Air Lang said l.e did not favour wasting Cine. He favoured the most practical entirse and hoped that it would he billowed.

In a subsequent statement Air Lang declared that it was preposterous that sixty or seventy gentlemen sitting in the Council, representing themselves only, should In- able to reduce popular Government to a. la roe. The electors gave hint lull authority to go ns far as time and opportunity would permit with Labour legislation and lie was determined " that neither the Tories 111 the Assembly nor the diehards in the Council shall defeat our purpose."

HIDES. MELBOURNE. October HU At the hides sale there was a strong lenuind. values being unaltered.

SUPER-TAX RE-lAI POSED. BRISBANE. October Id. The Assembly passed through the Committee stages the Land Tax Amendment Bill which re-imposes the super-laud tax oil properly nt a taxable value of 02.T00 and over.

N .- ; .\Y. POLITICK. SYDNEY. I Idnber Id. In the Assembly, speaking on an amending, .v 1 bit ra t ion Bill, which provides lor the abolition ol loyal unions. Mr Ravin said !:■- would urge loyal unionists, whose unions bad been omitted from the schedule to reln-e to join ntbef unions. 11l view ol the Couneil's action the •Government lia- new no alternative Inn to drop tlm abolition ol capital pmilsbuielll bill. STATE GOVERNORS. HOBART. October |.'U In tlm Assembly, the leader of the Opposition handed the Premier a memorial signed 1 1 v I wenly .eight members nl the House, which is a majority of lour over Hie Government, asking Hie Secretary ol Stale for the colonies to adhere to the present system of selecting Imperial Stale ( on eniois. FEDERAL ELECTIONS. (Received this day at U.L’o a.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. Id. Till keenness of the elections light is revealed by the lack of unopposed seal-.. Ni'in 111:1 1 unis generally -how there will be a clear light between parties, though in several electorates there are more than two candidates. Several eandiates who signified they would stand as independents, have withdrawn Heir nominations simplifying the tight.

EAIPLOYEK.k’ VieWS. SYDNEY. (let. lii. \ t the annual meeting ol the Employers' Kederaiion. the ( liairman said the present year might he called a red letter year, inasmuch a- il brought into existence the limiting ol eon-titii-licnal Government in -nine Stales, the O] er.it inn ol direct in I ion and I lie deliame of all law and order. The L'cilcrutinn strongly prutested against the pro j. used aniendmeni of the Arbitration Ad, on I lie ground t Iml it would lead the State inn industrial chaos and completely destroy constitutional domiiiiatic government. It also urged that stop- he taken lor the better rontt'i.l ol trade unionism by prohibiting foreigners and rebels from holding any positions therein.

TICKET TAX. PERTH. Oct. hi. Following oil the abolition ot the Federal entci'taimni'i.t tax on tickets up t:> tin' Valia- of 2- lid. the Stipe Govci'iiiiiciil has inip'iscd a -imilar tax on amounts from !)d to 2.- (id. WOMEN h i) AN( FUSE. HOBART, lid. 10. The Assembly iiasscd a Hill permitting women to he cleeted to l.auncestan City Council.