AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

NEW TARIFF DUTIES

MELBOURNE. March 3

fn the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Air Pratten (Customs .Minister), in a debate oil the new tariff duties validating Act, which was pas.-cd last Septemlfor, authorising the collection of the new duties for one year, said that ii was the earnest desire of the Governmuil to see that the further development of Australia’s secondary industries should not lie hampered. Six months had elapse since the new duties were first collected, and very considerable progress bad been made in the industries affected. Ihe new tariff had revived the whole textile industry. It had been giving fresh hope all round and the Government's action had been fiillv justified, through a large amount of additional employment having been found, and the further projected new duties had also stopped the closing do" n of many important engineering establishments, thus enabling that industry to undertake now a much greater proportion of the work required in Australia than previously. It Parliament confirmed the new duties, lie believed that within a year, further textile factories would lx* established in the Common wealth by at least three ot the leading British manufacturers. He concluded hv suggesting that the migration of indil.-try should be linked with the migration of people.

.-,1 AI.II.LIONS FOR REPARATIONS. AIEI.BOriiNE. March 3. The report of the Reparations Commission tabled in the House ot Representatives shows the total cost ol reparations. including the war gratuities and pensions to the end ol June last amounted to C151,139,10(1. N.S.W. I’OblTfCS. MR LANG AGAIN DEFEATED. (Received this day at 8 a.m A SYDNEY, AlarOh L The Government was again defeated bv the Legislative Council, that Chamber refusing to sanction the clause in the Electoral Amendment Act Dill abolishing proportional representation and substituting single seats and the first-past-the-post principle. Ihe Upper House was prepared for single scats reform, but wanted prelerential voting as a safeguard and this was carried bv 37 to 30 votes, thereby defeating the main design of Mr Lang’s Bill. I lie Government then decided not to proceed further with the measure. AIAITLAND COAL TROUBLE. SYDNEY, March 3. Li the Assembly, the member for Newcastle disclosed serious industrial trouble in the South .Maitland coal field, where six large collirics are alfecteil. He added flint the trouble might come to a crisis with a lortyeight hours’ notice. ’I he men are greatly dissatisfied on a number of grounds. N.S.W. LIVE STOCK. SYDNEY. March I. The stock branch of the Agricultural Department estimates the number of live-stock in the State at the 31st. December last was : Horses, 502,9i0; cattle, 2.532.988; sheep, 10.701.50-L The returns show n decrease lor the year of 21.000 horses. 10,030 cattle and an increase ol nearly 2.000,000 sheep. RUSH FIRES DAMAGE. MELBOURNE. .March 1. On Mount Plenty and siiurioiiiiding districts, gangs of lighters are still battling against Imsli tires. The danger glows hourly. A strong northerly wind materially increased the gravity of the situation on Mount Plenty, w here alone over a million sterling worth of mountain a.sli has been destroyed. A plantation ol pine treevalued at a million is almost in. the direct. track ol the lire. The phosphate work- ale in danger and strenuous effort- are being made to save them.

MELBOURNE WATER SMORT.\GiMELBOURNE. March I.

Owing to the continuance of the dry weather the metropolitan water supply has failed to meet the demand this summer. "I lie mi] ply tor garden pur-po-.s has been strictly prohibited, while several public baths had their supply cut off and were forced to close. More stringent regulations are forecasted. almost normal. SYDNKY, March I. The coastal shipping services have been restored almost to normal in consequence of the manning of vessels with volunteer crews. No further additions have been made to the idle fleet. The threat of the watersiders that they would not work volunteer s'iiips is not expected to affect the smooth running of the coastal services. AUSTRALIAN SIIAI.E DEPOSITS. MELBOURNE, M.arcl> I. A report was tabled in the House ot Representatives concerning the investigation into the possibility ol the development of the oil and shale deposits of the Commonwealth and of the production within Australia of liquid fuels and power alcohol from local material, with a view to ascertaining the best means whereby Australia can be made less dependent upon oversea sources for her oil requirements. It is pointed out that in New South Wales ii is estimated there are forty millions tons ol shale, representing 350 million gallons ol oil. Part ol this is stated to be one of the richest shales in the world, averaging in actual distillation about 101 gallons to the ton. Tn Tasmania the probable reserves of shale are set down at forty-two millien. tons, averaging about 40 gallons to the ton. This deposit is more aceessahle and more easily mined than the New South Wales shale and it is considered. Irom a commercial stand- ■ point, its development would he more 1 favourable oh account ot lower woiking i costs. ‘| ft. is considered the continuance of lithe Commiiowealth bounty of 3UI per gallon is essential to the conduct of l the industry.