AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 65, 8 July 1914, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

QUEENSLAND SCANDAL EXPOSED £ Eleotbio Telegbaph—Copyright) [United Pbesb abbouiation.j (Received 8.50 a.m.) Brisbane, July 8. The Governor has opened Parliament. The programme contains nothing startling. Tho report of the inquiry on tho Surveyor-General's department was presented to the Assembly. It stated that disloyalty was rampant in ,the Department. A flagrant breach of the regulations enabled a coterie of officials to derive a pecuniary benefit in addition to their salaries, thus securing advances denied officials who had not performed private work. On the recommendation of the Public Service Board, the salaries of five officers were reduced for certain periods.

DROPPING THE DEATH PENALTY (Received 9.15 a.m.) Sydney, July 8. A clause in the Governor's Speech declared that the Crimes Act would bo amended to put an end once and for all to the death penalty even in capital offences. A NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

The Council adopted the Address-in-Reply. Mr Wade secured an adjournment of the dehato in the Assembly. It is understood Mr Wade will move an amendment against the Government to-dav.