AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 99, 21 December 1912, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

MEW q ht (Received 5.25 a.m.) Sydney, December 21.

The Hon. Mr Holman, in announcing his early departure for London, said he was merely going to recuperate after his strenuous political labourers. He had no intention of supplanting the 'Agent-General. He did appjy to succeed Mr Coghlan when the latter’s term was up, but he withdrew the application when Mr Beeby resigned. Mr Coghlan’s term would probably lie extended for two years. He denies the rumours of bis intention to leave the Labpur Party. CONCERNING THE PRESS. (Received 10.10 a.m.) Melbourne, December 20. The House adopted Mr Bamford’s motion providing for representatives of any newspaper publishing misleading and erroneous statements about a member, or reflecting upon his good conduct and integrity, being excluded from the precincts of the House until an explanation or contradiction by the aggrieved member is given prominence: equal to that of the offending article. BRUSHING UP INSURANCE. , •' ‘A The .Insurance Bill was introduced, and- provides for the appointment of a commissioner who will be held responsible for the administration of the Act in the matter of supplies. The annual report of the' Minister shows that companies are compelled to register to receive a license. Life insurance companies, and other than life, have to make a deposit of £20.000; life and other insurances businesses when combined, a deposit ot £4.0,000; ,a life company must each succeeding year deposit £IO,OOO until the total reaches £100,000; and life and other insurance businesses when combined the-same sum yearly till it reaches £120.000. Stringent provisions are included for evasions, the making of proper returns, non-for-feiture. of policies, unreasonable or unjust premiums, innocent omission, and tbo auditing of the companies’ account/'