AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1921, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

PRESENTATION TO MR. HUGHES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Melbourne, April 22. In the House of Representatives Mr. Hughes, replying to Mr. Brennan, stated that the presentation of £25,000 which he had received had not involved a breach of the Constitution. Sir Joseph Cook declined to answer whether Mr. Hughes paid income-tax on the gift, describing the question as contemptible. MOTORS FQk LABORERS.Melbourne, April 22. In the Senate Mr. Pearce explained that the high cost of the remayal of trees at Darwin was due to a threatened strike prior to Sir Ross Smith’s arrival. The Government was compelled to surrender to a hold-up. [The case referred to was one in which 20 men were occupied for 17 days at £2 a day in removing two trees from an aerial landing place. The cost of motors to t(ake them to and from work was £B7.] COMMONWEALTH. STEAMERS. Sydney, April 22. It is reported in shipping circles the Commonwealth Government steamers in future will call regularly at Fiji, which is paying an annual subsidy of £12,000 for eight calls, four "outward and four homeward, en route to the United Kingdom.