AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8230, 6 September 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

A HIGHLY SATISFACTORY BUDGET.

Received September 7, 12.17 a.ra

SYDNEY, September 6. The Treasurer submitted a highly satisfactory Budget to-night. The receipts amounted to £12,283,082, and the expenditure to £11,395,242. The revenue shows an increase on the estimate of £994,782, and the expenditure an increase of £117,333. After making certain statutory payments to meet Treasurj Bills, a surolus of £846,124 is carried forward. For the first time in the history of the State there will be an oar-marking of the land sales revenue for substantial and permanent works. Over £900,000 will be applied for that purpose this year. Relief to taxpayers will be afforded in various directions. School fens involving £BO,OOO will be abolished; railway rates will save them £150,000: penny postaae will give an advantage of £50,000. The Treasurer that economy, combined with splendid seasons, made the finances exceptionally tuoyant. Not only had the Governmeural services paid for themselves, but business undertakings had in every instance paid their working expenses. The railway revenue amounted to £5,051,944; the working expenses and interest on capital amounted to £4,616,305. The loan expenditure was exceptionally low. The position indicated that they were nearing the day when they could gsay "good-bye" to the British money-lender. Tho estimated revenue for the current year was £12,030,555, and the surpluo was estimated at £1,444,600.

FURNISHING FALSE RETURNS

Received September 5, 10.30 a.m. PERTH, September 5. A man, named Moore, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment for furnishing false returns in connection with a gold-selling transaction.

LAND ADMINISTRATION

"[Received September 5, 10.50 a.m. SYDNEY, Septembers. The Grown Lands Administration Bill places the Lands Department i under the control of a commission.™

A BILL KILLED

Received Septembers, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 5. • n the Federal Senate the Contingent Voting Bill received its quietus in a test vote.

STATE AND COMMONWEALTH

GRIEVANCES IN QUEENSLAND,

Received September 5, 9.52 a.m. | BRISBANE, September 5. { In the financial debate, in tbe State Parliament, Mr Philip, exPremier, declared that the Federal finance was most unsatisfactory. Queensland had. more reason for dissatisfaction than any other State. She hnd lostovertwo milliou pounds since the inauguration of tbe Federation, and was losing all the time. As far as he could see, the Federal Government had no intention of dealing fairly with the States. The Constitution provided that the Commonwealth should take over and compensate the States for certain properties, but not a farthing compensation bad been paid. Tbe Common wealh, be said, should shoulder its own responsibilities, and should pay interest on the transferred properties. Queensland's revenue was expanding, and the amount to be reoeived from the Commonwealth would be greater each year. Therefore it would be absolute folly for the Government to enter into an arrangement under which she would reoeive a fixed sum annually, lie believed the other States would join Queensland in demanding the return of a full three-fourths of the Customs and exoise revenue. Queensland bad no desire for a penny postage, which would further reduce her revenue. The State, added Mr Philip, would have to inaugurate an immigration sobeme of her own at tbe end of the year, as she would need five thousand agricultural labourers for the sugar industry. The labourers oould not be had in Australia, and he did not desire to see tbe soum of Sydney and Melbourne flocking here..

SPECIAL CUSTOMS DUTIES. Received September 5, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 5. Mr Deakin, the Federal Premier, has introduced a Bill amending the Constitution, giving power to impose special Customs duties for special purposes; suoh duties snail not he subject to the three-fourths return tr the States, but used solely by the Federation. The object is to provide funds for old-age pensions.

CANNED MEATS AND FISH SEIZED.

Received September 5, 10.30 a-tnT" PERTH, September 5. Eighteen thousand of] the various kinds of canned meats and fish have been seized by the authorities. The goods are badly blowu and unfit for consumption. It is asserted that the bulk of the goods was packed in Chicago.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,

PREFERENTIAL TRADE. Reoeived September 5, 10.12 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 5. Mr Fruzer has gi?eu notice to move iu connection with tJie preferential proposals on British good*) that the ail idea on which preference 19 conceded must be (ho produce exclusively o!' Urifciah white labour and imported in British vessels manned b? white seamen,