AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1930, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

PUBLICAN ALLEGES CORRUPTION (Australian Press Association) SYDNEY, December 27. Sensational allegations by Joseph Ellison, lately licensee of the Empire Hotel, owned by the City Council, are being investigated by the police. Ellison declared he paid eight thousand sterling to persons connected with the City Council and members of the police force, the former as a “guarantee” that his tender for the hotel would be successful, and the latter for allegedly winking at breaches of the licensing laws of the City Council. Action in connection with these statements is delayed pending the police report. WHEAT MARKET. ITALY SHORT. ADELAIDE, December 28. A leading Italian milling merchant, Signor A. Fattorini, who is visiting Australia, says that owing to the failure of the Italian crop, it is quite likely that Italy will buy as much Australia is prepared to sell her. BETTING TAX. (Received this day at 10 a.m.l SYDNEY, December 30. It was officially stated to-day that the Ministry has no intention of modifying 'or repealing, the betting tax'. It is understood the Treasury officials are perfectly satisfied with the results of this tax to date, and point out they fully expected considerable opposition, and resentment. Government will most likely license starting price betting shops, which are now evading the tax, and provide heavier penalties for convictions. ’XMAS TRAFFIC. SYDNEY, December 30. ’Xmas traffic on the New South Wales Railways showed falling off of £31,433 sterling by comparison with 1929. The postal department reports there was a slump of ’Xmas mail business by twenty, per cent.