AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1921, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

VOLUNTARY WHEAT POOL. By Telegraph.—Fress Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, Nov. 12. Preparations have been made to or ganise a voluntary wheat pool to take advantage of Mr. Hughes’ oiler of 3s per bushel. THE FEDERAL FINANCES. Melbourne, Nov. 12. Mr. Hughes announced that the Ministry has pruned the estimates to the extent of half a million, which, with £375.000 in London, as the Commonwealth’s share of the Army of Occupation reduces the estimated deficit of £2,817,000 by half. THE BASIC WAGE, Sydney. Nov. 11. Mr. McGirr announced' that the Government had received a reply from the Board of Trade in regard to the basic wage, in which it stated the board could not reconsider its decision in reducing the wage. Therefore the Government had decided to enforce v the wage of £4 5s by legislation for another year arid legislate abolishing the Board of Trade Brisbane, Nov. 11. The Arbitration Court derided that the present» basic wage of £4 5s shall stand until March, 1922. HIGH COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSED. Melbourne. Nov. 12. Sir Joseph Cook has resigned his seat. Tn the House of Representatives. Dr. Page attacked the system of appointing a High Commissioner, contending that the Commissioner should be a member of Parliament with the designation of Minister of Internal Affairs. * Mr. Hughes replied that the Commissioner would be a puppet, of the reigning party instead of a representa tive of the nation, adding that Dr. Page had not. the slightest idea of the qualifications required for the position.