AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association. 1

TAXING AMERICAN FILMS. A- in the £ PROPOSED. SYDNEY. Dec. 23. In the Assembly Mr Lang announced that it was proposed to impose a tax of Is in the £ sterling oil incomes derived by film companies from the sale or lease of motion picture films. Mr Lang explained the reason for the action was that American firms had for many years been taking huge sums out of New South Wales without paying anything at all in taxation. These linns had established subsidiary companies in New South “Wales and leased films, charging as much as seventy to .seventy-five per cent, of the gross takings. The proposal received endorsement from all sides of tho Chamber. Should tile Is prove unsuitable the Government reserved the right to alter tho amount. A Bill embodying the proposal passed all .stages in both houses. QUEENSLAND COTTON. BRISBANE. Dee. 23. The area under cotton for the coming season is estimated at between 25,001) to 30.000 acres as compared with 10,000 in the previous season, hut the final yields promise to he considerably higher. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. (Received this day at 11.25 a.in.) SYDNEY. December 23. The Assembly passed a hill providing for an increase in income tax exemption Imm C2IU to C3OO sterling annually. The Legislative Council passed a hill enabling women to he appointed to the Legislative Council. William Knight, organi-er of the Australian Worker-’ l uinii, was lined ■CIO, with CIS costs, for inciting the shearers to strike on a station at Barra bn. which had been declared black bv the union.

The State i- again sweltering under a heat wave. 112 degrees being registered in the western districts. LEGISLATIVE MI DDLE. MELBOURNE. December 23. For the third time, the Legislative Council, decided not to accept the Ministry's taxation proposals. Hy rejecting for the third time they have exhausted their constitutional rights to amend the hill. If the Assembly again decided not lo accept the Council's suggestions and returns the hill to the (oniicil the onus for finally rejecting the hill will then lie on the Upper House. If the hill is defeated, the Ministry will have no legal authority lo collect income tax of any kind. The Premier declined lo comment on the situation.

X.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY. 'Dee. 23

It,now transpires that the Governor was not actually a consenting party to the Hooding of the Legislative Council, His Excellency, in the early stages rejecting the Govcrniiient’.s demands. At one slage it was thought by Cabinet that he would resign. The Governor ultimately agreed to consult the Dominion- Office. It appears Mr Lang had t onmitiiiieated direct with ilie Home Office and the Governor was -üb-eqiionl ly nolil'cl from England l hat he must accept the advice of his Mini-ier.s. No written undertaking was given to the Governor regarding the Government's attitude towards tho abolition of the Council, hut an undertaking was given verbally hy a member of the Ministry. An influential sect ion of the caueii- i> now clamouring for the abolition if the Council, and a Bill to give elfect to this will prol-ahiv lie introduced dining the tneseiit Parliament. Governinent also intend- lo amend the constitution to enable women lo he appointed lo I pper House. With the aid of tho now appointees. the Government is .succeeding in passing the Government. Railways Amendment Bill in the .Legislative Council Bill, which validates the action of 11 to niilvvsiv «-ommissiom*ps in restorin'* tin* seniority of tho i!)17 strikers. A fonlVrcncp of unions lifts Iwsen convened hy the Labour Council for February next. Lo consider the attitude of the trade union movement to the Labour Party. COAL MINERS TDLKD. SYDNEY. Dee. 23. Following the owners’ refusal to grant new rates and conditions, wheelers in six (ollieries in Kurriktirri district have struck, rendering the mines idle.