AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[ RAILWAYS DEFICIT. By ■ Telegraph.—P«ss Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, Aug. 19, The annual report of the railway shows a deficit for the year of £l93,3tif). The lops due to the influenza epidemic on the railways and tram services was £76o,ooo.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. RAILWAYS RETROGRESSING. Received Aug. 19, 7.25 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 19. The railways report stresses the neeesoifv fnr r ot ,„ m i„„ ♦ !,„ M „„i i.: i.

Sydney, Aug. 19. The railways report stresses the necessity for resuming the constructive work on the City Railway, which had been suspended since June of last yar. It says that within a very short period the present facilities will absolutely fail to deal with the city's requirements. The report shows that the increase in the wages sheet for the year amounted to £81,504 as the result of various industrial awards.

The Chief Commissioner, in reviewing the position of the railways, sounded a serious, note of warning. On top of the increased expenditure, there was decreasing production, Since 1914 the tonnage handled by the railways had gone backwards. The population bad increased, but production per head had fallen. PRAISE FOR DOMINIONS' TROOPS. Received Aug. 19, 7.30 p.m. Melbourne, Aug. 19. Mr. Gullet, official correspondent with the A.I.P. in Palestine, has returned. Speaking at a reception, he said he could tnstify that the twelve divisions sent by the outer Dominions had been supreme. He was content to say that the Australians were the equals of the New Zealanders and Canadians.—Aus.-N.Z. table Assn. OPENING OP'PARLIAMENT. Received Aug. If), 5.40 p.m. m . „ Sydney, Aug. 19. _ Ihe Governor, in opening the final session of Parliament, forecasted legislation for securing preference in employment for returned soldiers, unemployment insurance, control of monopolies, prevention of profiteering, further control of the liquor traffic, and amendments of the Arbitration Act.

Mr D. Levy was elected Speaker of tne Assembly.

REFUND OF EXTRA WAR RISK-

Received Aug. 19, 9.40 p.m. . .... Sydney, Aug. ID. A petition is being circulated asking the A.M.P. Society to refund the extra war risk premiums charged to aoidU-r and sailor members of the society who took out policies subsequent to the outbreak of war.