AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia A X.Z. Cable Association.]

delay in cable service. SYDNEY. Oct. 22. The cables have 1,-'eii subject to several Ilnurs’ delay lor the past l href days. INCOME TAN RAISED. M TiI.BOURNE. On. 22. In the Victorian Assembly, the State Treasurer delivered the Budget. Ihr ,vvenm. for tile |.a-t year was C'2:i.ool . (100. ami the expenditure £2:1.8515.000. leaving a surplus of £1:15.000. The estimated revenue for the current. vea r is £2!.444.0! {) ami the expenditure £21.728.000.

The Treasurer stated that as the conditions rendered it. imperative to raise further revenue, it was proposed to add one penny in the pound to the income tax on income derived trom personal exertion, and twopence in the pound to tile taxes on incomes from properly ami from company dividends. The Treasurer eon fir mod the aniimnuement that lie proposed to institnlc the totalisator as a means of raising revenue which would least detrimentally affect the general public. The Treasurer expects £287.000 additional revenue from the increase in the income tax. QUEENSLAND POLITICS. BRISBANE. Oct. 22. .Mr \V. McCormick has reconstructed ihe Queensland Minishy. Mr McCormack is Treasurer, ns well as Premier; Mr Dun-tand. Minister of Lands; Mr Gleil-on. Minister of State Enterprise. COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. (Received this day at O.tlt) a.mA SYDNEY. October 20. The ( ornmillers’ l>e<|.'ration Conference resolved to haw nothing further to tlo with eompulsorv arbitration, and ileeided in favour of voluntary arbitration and concilia! mu and if Hint failed to leave the unions to settle the question of the strike. MEAT' CONTRACT FOR AUSTRALIA SYDNEY. October 25. A cable received from the Australian -Meat Coiim-il's London office slates tie War Department has given Australia the entire contract lor the Mediterranean stations’ requirements of beet anil mutton for six months, ■ndingfflsi May next. The total qilnnlites are estimated at .4.1)2.', tons of beef and 41 T tons ol million. REFUSE TO ATTEND. SYDNEY. October 2M. Tito Union's decision means that • hey refuse to attend any compulsory •onl'ereiiee to wliieh they might lie .aimmont'd in luture. ABOLITION OE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. SYDNEY, n.-iober 24. The < Tiit'l' Seeretarv gate notice of colioii to introduce a I,ill to abolish iroport iona I repre-en Ia I ion and substitute single seats. NOTHING I'TSIIY. GOVERNMENT' DEAL IN SACKS. (Received ibis day at 10.0 a.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 2,4. Document- laliled in 1 lie Assembly ‘li.seluscd detail- of the G iveriiment'I'ansaction in Yorn-.ucks wherein Hastate lost £I2.AGO. I’urihases were made in jul.v lasi at. I Is lid pep dozen and the sacks were re-old at 12s Pd. The official papers showed that as the farmers had suffered the previous year through the high price ~l sack- alii! vere expelling a Inimpei uarvesi til -ix.lv million bushels this year. Mr Dunn, the .Minister ol Agriculture, ileeided In purchase a -apply lo prevent the farmers again having to pay -neb a, high priii'. Step- were taken to

prevent the transaction leaking mu so as not to after! I lie market and Ihe .neks were purchased through a private agent. l/nfort una tidy the dry wealhcr militated against the prospects of wheat, bringing the estimated yield down to thirty million bushels. Tills caused an unexpected break in the jute market and price.-, tell with the prospect ol a turihrr fall. Thereupon it was decided to sell a portion of the sacks already delivered at the best price obtainable and cancel the rest of the contract. Yesterday Mr Bavin made a strong attack on the Government regarding the secrecy and other circumstances .-•onnected with the purchase and sale and asked the Premier to appoint a Royal Commission ol Inquiry, tailing vh'irh other means might he necessary. Mr l.attg. in agreeing in appoint a Commission, denied there was anything isliy about the business. Ibe Minister bad consulted him and lie advised him to cut the loss. Mr |Hum explained .he knew very ittle about the- jute business, so therefore he obtained the services ol all cxoericneed man. who was a personal friend who he could absolutely trust. He had acted in the interests ol the farmers. If anybody could prove .lie had even made as much as a cigar out ,f the transaction lie would go right mil of Parliament and uni come hue,;.