AUSTRALIAN' NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN' NEWS.

i MEMBERS' SALARIES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, Dec. 0. In the Assembly the Salaries Bill was read a third time by 41 votes to 24. Mr. Dooley, in moving the second reading of the Bi'l to abolish proportional representation and to substitute single seats, said it was the intention to make enrolment for voting compulsory. Melbourne, Oec. 0. The validity of Mr. Hughes' scat is questioned under a section of the constitution providing that, in case of any member ' aocepting fees-or an honorarium for services rendered to the Commonwealth t]ie seat shall become vacant. No action is contemplated till the meeting of Parliament at EasteT time. In the Assembly, a Bill increasing Members' salaries from £3OO to £450 ,will be introduced next Tuesday. EXCESS CUSTOMS DUTIES. Sydney, Dee. 9. In connection with the High Court's decision regarding the levying of duties on imported goods, important questions haye arisen as to whether, in view of the ruling of the Court, duties which the Customs has been levying in excess of the actual rate of exchange shall ba refunded, as probably most goods levied upon have passed out of the hands of importers at prices allowing for the full rates of exchange. It is considered impracticable to make a refund, and not improbable that Parliament will be asljed to indemnify the Customs Department for a!iiy collections wrongfully made. As regards countries where the rate of exchange has depreciated, like the United States and Japan, the Customs Department is applying the same principle as whero the exchange rate has appreciated, and therefore .it has collected less duty than it should have done. "In the latter cose it is considered unlikely that the Customs will ask importers of American and Japanese goods to make good the duties collected short. It is likely that the decision of the Court will apply to all future importations from both countries. The legal aspect of the whole position is being considered.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEW STEEL WORKS. Dee. 9. The- Hoskins Iron and Steel Company is establishing steel works at Port Kembla on the same scale as at Broken Hill and at Newcastle. The company has already acquired its own coal mine on the south coast, also an area In Tasmania containing large iron ore do* posits, which will he shipped to Port Kembla. : WOOL TOP INDUSTRY. ■Sydney, Dec. A. Slackness in the wool top industry has set in and hundreds are idle. The union secretary says that ' the wool textile workers propose to establish their own mills, and are ajrgroaching the Government for the use of the old Pawama'tttt gaol buildings. lAIN DAMAGES WHEAT. Sydney, Dec. 9. The position in regard to some of the wheat areas , whero rain is falling is becoming increasingly anxious. Not only are the harvesting operations delayed, but tin.' grain is bleached, the quality adversely affected, and tile crops tangled by the wind. Already considerable damage is reported. Another drawback is the insufficient storage for dump grain, which the country districts )save railed to Sydney. It is feared that the shortage of railway rolling stock will adversely delay its'transport. GENERAL ITEMS. Sydney, Dec. 8. The State Wheat Board has decided to control the shipment of wheat from Sydney. No agents will be employed. The High Court granted the executive counoil of the Seamen's Union an injunction restraining Walsh from act- , ing as secretary of the union.