AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1931, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

N.S.AY. POLITICS. (Australian Press Association.) (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. AI av Vo. Clauses relating to defamation and sedition in the Law Reform Bill now before New South Wales Assembly are likely to be jettisoned or greatly mod- | iiied by the State Labour Caucus, which has referred them to a special I committee lor report. It is pointed out that these provisions may recoil ( upon members of the Labour Party, in I the event of the anti-Liabour Party obtaining office, when freedom of speech would become a thing of the past. TASMANIAN ELECTIONS. HOBART, May 15. The Tasmanian election count is now complete, nn c j the state of the parties is:—Nationalist, 19; Labour, 10, Independent, 1. Labour has thus lost four scats. Mr Watkfns, former deputy-leader of the Labour Party, who recently broke away, has been returned as the Independent. CITY COUNCIL FINED. (Received tMs dav at 9. a.m.) SYDNEY, May 16. The City Council was fined £323/16/1 hv the Commissioner of Taxation for the late payment of the tax under the Family Endowment Act. The Deputy Town Clerk states that none of the previous accounts were paid on or before the due date and no demand was previously made by the Commissioner for payment of a fine. TREASURY BILL RENEWAL. SYDNEY. May 16. The “Telegraph” says there is a strong rumour in Canberra that negotiations are taking place between the Commonwealth financial representative its London and a powerful financial institute there with a view to the renewal of live millions pounds ol •Commonwealth Treasury Bills due for redemption on June 30.