AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1926, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

I Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] TRAINING SHIP SCRAPPED. SYDNEY, July 29. It was with just a pang of regret that Sydney read the announced intention of the Federal authorities to “scrap” the old naval training ship Tingira, which lias lain for so many years in Rose Bay, and which is one of Sydney’s historic institutions. Hardly a visitor to Sydney, when on tho harbour, fails to have the old Tingira. pointed out to him. What might be termed the mother of the Australian sailers of to-day, she was* once a favourite passenger ship between Australia and England. As passengers, she carried Governors and other distinguished persons until she was taken over as a training ship. She was one of the fleet that used to race home for the\wool sales, and her decks have been.trodden by many admirals. Many plasant memories crowd round this old ship, now doomed to extinction. GUI LTV OF MUII HER. SYDNEY, Aug. 6. Robert Turner was found guilty of the murder of Mrs Loveday, cabled on March 21st. He was remanded for sentence.

AUSTRALIAN TAXES,

MELBOURNE, Jully 20. Australian motorists are making a determined protest 'against the new taxes on petrol, chassis and tyres. On .no previous occasion have motor users exhibited a more combatant spirit, for they feel that they have been tricked, gulled and betrayed by the Government. It is with bitter feelings that they remember that when the Federal Government announced a gift to the States of £20,000,000 . for ruhds. they were inclined ,to bo grateful. It has been, hinted that the Government counted on the burst of indignation “blowing over” in the course of a few days. But the motoring fraternity has no intention cf following precedent this time. They want the tax axe used with at. least a little discretion. and null hold .out against ill-con-sidered wielding.

Ifc has been pointed cut that .as road construction benefits all the people, money for such construction should not he obtained by direct, but by indirect taxation, thus compelling all to. contribute.

Motorists arc in favour of a progressive roads policy, and are quite;, agreeable to share the cost, but it is only natural to expect tlui they will resist strongly any proposal to burden them with the whole of the expense.

By supporters of the Government proposals it has been pointed out that motorists in Australia are “on velvet” compared with those in overseas countries. For example, in Britain, where the tax is £1 a horse-power,' a 20 h.p. car costs £2C-«a year for registration. But what has been lost sight of is the fact that in motor manufacturing countries there are no Customs duties to pav. Further, the manufactories pay to the Government large sums in income talk. „ , T , , In 1922 the net profits of the Ford Motor Co. were £23,160,000. The income tax on this amount would be no smaill figure!