AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1919, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SOAP WORKS BUBNED. j Adelaide, Feb. 3. Burford's soap works have been de-1 stroked by fire. The damage amounts I to many .thousands, —Aua.-NvZ. Gab! a | Aissu. and Keuter. 1 the epidemic.

Sydney, Feb .3. The diagnosis of four suspects showed anfluenza. These are the only cases for the week-end. One case was reported, at Albtiry which is declared au niiecfed area. In Melbourne 17C new cases of influenza have been reported ...u-ing the weekend and 11 deathk—Aua.Ov.Z. Cable Asan arid'.Reuter.

Adelaide, Feb. 3. Five new eases of • iuilSKai&a are reported. '

WELLING?OR MPICS.

THE NKXT GENK&Ai. HBiEGTION, (Special Correspondent } Wellington, Jan. 31. Sir John Findlay's statement that it is not his intention to seek re-election to the Hawke's .Bay seat cam* as no surprise to his intimate personal friends. Sir John contested the seat on the death of the Hon. Eobart McNab, the previous occupant, at the argent request oi tiie National Cabinet and on the plain under standing lie was not committing himself to a permanent return to political life. He now reminds his constituents in good time of these facts and leaves them free to act about the choice of his successor. The seat lias been keonly contested* by the two old political parties during the last quarter of a century, first one side and then the other prevailing, and it certainly will not be allowed to go by do. fault at the next general election. Tlie present, member, placing the broadest interpretation upon the spirit of the political truce, has known no parties and the constituency lias warmly approved of his attitude'; "But, as he admits himself, non-party government has not proved a success in practice and with peace finally concluded the great majority of the electors will be glad to return to the former system.

RENUNCIATION OF THE TRUCE. Just when and juat how the truce will be terminated Sir John does not pretend to know. But apparently his own view is tliat as soon as the more important matters connected with the party leaders' mission to Loudon are se££lS3 the Reformers and the L.Vrsls should resume their old relations a 9 ,1 constitutional Government and a constitutional Opposition. This, of course, would involve the withdrawal of the Liberal Ministers from the Cabinet and the appointment of Reformers in their stead, and at the mometit it is not. easy to see how Uio change could bo effected without seriously interfering with the smooth running of tlu- administrative machine. Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. A. M- Myers, for instance, obviously are the only Ministers that have a comprehensive grasp of the new finance and their latirement would mean handing over the whole business, for'a time at any rate, to the permanent head of the Treasury. However, a majority of the members of the present House evidently are tired of the existing arrangement and their anxiety to Be relieved of tho restraints imposed upon them by the trnee may lead to the early election Sir John predicts

A NATIONAL ALLIANCE.

Delegates from the Labor organisations who have been sitting in conference here during the last, day or two, white reiterating their desire to preserve the industrial peace, make no secret of the fact that the "national alliance" they have just formed is intended to enforce the legitimate demands of the workers by ali constitutional means within their reach. In a communication they have made to the Pres3 they refer to the alliance as "a demonstration of the desire of the organised trade unionists of the Dominion to combine into a solid phalanx to protect their rights, defend themselves from any further inroads on their liberty and prosecute their claims for moro equitable treatment and better wages. The language is neither new nor unusually aggressive, but there* is u glowing feeling in the community that the Labor leaders mean business at least to the length of maintaining the higher wages and better conditions secured during the course of the war The general attitude i 3 one of waiting for developments

WAR TAXATTO.-. There is a mild agitation, by way of a preliminary protest, going on here for the removal of 3ome of the minor war taxation which was imposed, so the promoters of the movement, say, in order that people whp did not pay land or income tax might they were doing their bit in holding back, the Euns. The amusement tax is the one receiving- most attention just now, probably because it is causing petty inconvenience to tlie numerous patrons of the picture shows; but tilery are renewed complaints from email tradesmen, sis well as from large business firms, of the very considerable burden foistered on to them by the increased nost and telegraph rates. Tlie general public, too, has been feeling this imposition and is ready enough to join in n clamor for a return of the lower charges. The recent deic' -tinn in the quality of the services U m additional point to the demand for reform. Nothing is likely to be done in the matter till Sir .Tofsprih Ward's return from . but fche Postmaster-General himself ban placed on record manv arsiiment? fnr cheap postal and telegraphic rates which doubtless will be quoted for lur erii'ication later on.