AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1930, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

N.Z. REUNION. (Australian Press Association.) NEWCASTLE, December 18. One hundred and fifty New Zealanders residents of Newcastle area, held the first reunion in the Oddfellows Hall, Auckland Street. The principal guest was Mr Schmitt, New Zealand Commissioner in Australia,

J. Hogan, an Auoklandite, was elected President of a strong executive. Mr Schmitt announced the appointment of a. New Zealand sub agent at Newcastle, to deal. with tourist business and expressed the hope that Mr Forbes, when returning from the Imperial Conference would be able to visit Newcai.Lle and see the vast steel workshops and other big industries.

FEDERAL POLITICS. AN APOLOGY. (Received this day at 10 30 a.m.) , CANBERRA, Dec. 19. Two Opposition members, including Mr Latham, refused to serve as managers on the Committee of both Houses to consider, the amendments io the Northern Territory Administration Bill, owing to Mr Theodore being on the Committee. Other members were appointed in their stead. Senator Daly expressing regret at the incident, said he felt there had been an abrogation of British Justice owing to certain members refusing, to sit with Mr Theodore, who was entitled to a fair trial by an impartial jury..

SALES TAX. CANBERRA, December 17. The annual report of the Commonwealth Commissioner for Taxation states that the sales tax collections for the past three months amounted to £1,068,000. The number of income tax payers in the Commonwealth is 257,939 with taxable incomes amounting to 119 millions The amount of tax paid was £6,219,000 In addition 7,765 absentees were assessed for tax amounting to £225,116, There were eight thousand five hundred companies of almost sixty millions sterling for tax amounting to two and three quarter millions. ■ N.'S.AV. POLITICS. SYDNEY, Dec. 19. The rationing of employees except by the Crown will he prohibited as a rpsult of the amendment to the Forty-four Hours Bill carried in the Assembly. Members pf the police force will be the only public servants to escape the Government’s rationing policy. The Bill passed all stages and the House adjourned until 20th January. The Legislative Council passed the -Unemployment Relief Tax Bill, Prevention and Relief of Unemployment.Bill and State Lotteries Bill, and adjourned till 20th ‘ January.

HOUSE ADJOURNS. (Received this day at 10 a.m.) CANBERRA, Dec. ,19.Both the House of Representatives and the Senate adjourned “the date to be fixed.” COMMERCIAL. MELBOURNE, Dec. 19. Wheat, no business. Flour £8 and £8 ss. Bran £4. Pollard £4 15s. Oats Is 7d to Is Bd.- Barley (English) 2s lOd. Maize 4s. COURT APPOINTMENTS: SYDNEY, Dec. 19. Doctor Evatt is thirty-six years of age. His appointment is the culmination of a brilliant career at the Bar, where he has been one of the foremost advocates for several years. Me was formerly a Labour member in the State House. Mr MeTiernan is aged thirty-eight and was admitted to the Bar in 1916. He. also represented Labour in New South Wales.