AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

THE INCOME-TAX BILL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, August 19. In tie House Mr. Hughes, in moving the second reading of the Income Tax Bill, said the Bill called on those who could afford it to pay. He failed to see how else the money could be raised. The tax was an equitable one. So far as the data was available they shelved that it was economically sound. The lack of information regarding the wealth of the Commonwealth was lamentable. The debate was adjourned.

IMRTY TROTH WANTED. Sydney, August 10. A large meeting was held in the Town Hall to protest against the forthcoming referendum. It carried a resolution urging the abandonment of party warfare., Sir William Macmillan pointed to New Zealand's example. Australia and New Zealand shouid be expected to do more than the other dominions, because they were the most purely British. He was sorry that the state of polities did not permit of a National Government in Australia.

The meeting carried motions appealing to the Federal Government to postpone the refcrendimij also to refrain from introducing contentious legislation.

WHEAT ACQUISITION BILL. Sydney, August 19. In the Assembly, Mr. Hall introduced a 'Bill amending the Wheat Acquisition Act. and extending its period of-opera-tion for a further three months, as the holders of last year's crop were releasing supplies which fhe Government wished to acquire. Though the Act had not worked out just as he wanted, it had saved a penny a loaf for many months. He had no intention to touch the new harvest. The Bill was read a first time, NO STRAIN OF GERMAN BLOOD. " Sydney, August 19. Mr. Holman, in answer to a question if it was possible that the hostility evinced towards him at recruiting meetings was due to German blood in him or Mrs. Holman. said there was absolutely no foundation for the rumor. Neither he nor Mrs. Holman had a strain of German blood.