AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1930, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

RUS IN ESS AIE N CONE Jilt

(Australian Press Association)

(Received Litis day at 6 a.m.)

SYDNEY, April 6

A group of representative businessmen conferred with Premier Bavin on the subject of trade depression and iinaucial stringency, the main object, being to--explore methods for reducing tho cost of production, without causing further unemployment, and at the same time ensuring a corresponding reduction in the cost- of living. A committee was formed to bring up a report.

The Stale Treasurer (Mr Stevens) also conferred with the hanks in order lo get their views. \\ lien the Commonwealth Conversion Loan closes to-morrow it is expected that Government will have provided for almost two-thirds-of the sixty .millions sterling which was outstanding when the campaign was launched. The response has been so liberal Unit the task of the Federal Treasurer lias been considerably lightened and the conversion of tlie balance should not he unduly arduous.

Next year’s Commonwealth and State Conversions should be comparatively light and have not- to he arranged until near the end of 1931.

SOUTH AUSTRA LI AN ELECTIONS

ADELAIDE-, April 6

Tlie general elections..of South Australia, were held yesterday. 'The counting of tlie votes is. necessarily, slow, owing to fhe complicated preferential voting system. ...

The. indications ,arq that the Liberals,, which are.the Government’ party, will lose seats, without making any gains anywhere. 'The Premier, Air Butler’s seat, is in jeopardy. Contests hare occurred in forty-two constituencies, for which there were n i nety-five canilida-tes. All of the members of the Assembly and half of the members of tho Legislative Council went to the country.

LABOUR WINS

(Received this day at 9.40 a.m.) * ADELAIDE, April 7

The elections resulted iri the Butler Government being defeated, after three years of officii— The probable state of the parties in the. new Parliament aml old- .Parliament : respectively are:— ‘ ’■ Labour; 26 and 16.'- 1 '< ■ •' Liberal, 7 and ,2fZ": . Country'.’.Party, 2"a'nd"l. I mhuiendont. nil and 2.

In AYooroora tire ."posit ion of Premier Butler is in don hi' and he will have difficulty in retailing his.seat.

There as a po'sdbilitiyv .of (Conrtfiissioner of Crowns LnudsYghje-- ■ ifig ■’defeated. ThedAttorney General, Hr HoTn.hurg. is besntsc closely: pressed sliicl * tiro Minister of Education' ..-is by :iia j -means; certain . of ageing, retuajnqd.-

A BIG BLAZE

SYDNEY, April .ft,

Half the business-.,premises : in the Main- Street- of Bre'wiu'uua-, were .raz--.('d !>v a lire. -••The toWik Itqs no lire ■brigiule and s/eLdonts working fhe Ctivuicil’s^ahTiqtUtfeTftteccrfTLy'li^ l : by a bucket brigade eventually quelled I Ik;;..Jlani.es. The shops were mostly weatherboard.' The daniage is estimated fit 612.000 sterling. Two'-men have been arrested on a charge of arson.

RETIRING

■SYDNEY. April 7

General Sir Harry- Cbauvel (Chief of the General ’ Staff, and Inspector General of Australian Militoky horces) retires ♦from active service, on 16th April, on reading .the age of Go years.