AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8104, 26 March 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

THE FEDERAL PREMIER. Reoeived March 25, 4.50 p.m. BALLARAT, March 24. The Hon. AKred Deakin, Federal Premier, delivered the first part of a policy speech to a good audience. The situation, he said, was unchanged since 19Q3. As then, there were still three parties, and it was 1 plain that no single party could carry on its programme. Without some arrangement between two of the parties legislation was impossible. He claimed that Mr G. H. Reid broke his agreement with him prior to his (the speaker's) last Ballarat speech, by seeking to bring about an election prematurely. Mr Reid «tas. the victim of stage fright, and he had appointed a Tariff Commission to save his own skin. Mr Keid was against one form of Socialism and favoured another. It was diffioult to understand his position. .The polioy of the Government was essentially a polioy of protection, and offered an Australian polioy for Australian people. Mr Deakin will deal with the relations of the Government and the Labour Party next week. A COAL COMPANIES' COMBINE THE PRICE OF COAL TO BE RAISED. Reoeived Maroh 26, 1 a.m. SYDNEY, March 25. An important development has taken place in the northern coal district, resulting in tbe combining of twenty-four out of thirty collieries. It is anticipated that the selling price of coal will be raised within a fortnight. For some t»me best coal has been selling from 7s to 8s per cwt., while the miners have been paid a hewing rate based on the selling prioe at 9s. The miners are taking action in view of this development to secure an advance of eightpence on their present rate of wages. A TERRIFIC THUNDERSTORM. RAILWAY LINE WASHED AWAY Received Maroh 26, 1 a.m. SYDNEY, Maroh~2~ During a terrific thunderstorm between Sydney and tbe Blue Mountains, last night, five inches of rain fpll. The railway line was washed away at Glen brook, and a landslip was precipitated on to the line, which was blocked for many bours.