AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8310, 13 December 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AN ARBITRATION AWARD. RATES OF PAY OF MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF STEAMERS. Reoeived December 12, 10.46 p.m. SYDNEY, December 12. The Federal Arbitration Court has uiveu its award in connection with the claim of the Merubauts Shipping Guild of Australasia for an amelioration of the conditions with regara to the ratos]of pay. The award divides steamers into two classes—A, passenger; B, cargo —and further divides them into four classes according to toDuage. The pay of masters in class A ranges from £2l to £34 per month dn a tonnage baa's; chief officers, £ls to £l7; second officers, £l2 to £l4; third officers, £lO to £ll. In class B the paygof masters ranges from £2l to £3l; chief officers, all £ls; second officers, £l2; third officers, £lO. The pay of'the fourth and fifth offloers injjjall ships is £8 per month. The award will come into operation on January Ist, and lemaius operative for three years.

FEDERAL ELECTIONS. RETURNS INCOMPLISTLi. NO POSSIBILITY YET OF DEFINING STRENGTH OF PARTIES. UNPRECEDENTED EXCITEMENT AT RALLARAT. Reaeived December 13, 1.28 a.m. SYDNEY, Deoember 12. The polling proceeded very quietly in several Slates, but returns to-night are so incomplete as to afford no possibility of defining the strength of the parties. In New South Wales the return of air William Lyne and Messrs G. Reid, Hughes and J. 0. Watson are beyond doubt. There is heavy voting in the majority of the divisions for the Senate. Tbiee of the retiring Senators (Messrs Gould, Walker and Miller) have a substantial lead over Labour and Socialist bunches. Mr A. Chapman, Postmaster General, has a good lead over his opponent, and is almost certain to be returned. In Victoria the excitement at Bal•laTat was unprecedented, bui Mr A Deakin (Prime Minister) has a solid lead over Mr Soullin. The Senate vote in South Australia places the Socialist bunch ahead. Senator Playford is about 5,000 behind. As the resume, however, are comparatively few, the position Is subject to considerable change.

NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. THE LOTTERIES BILL. Reoeived Deoember 12, 9.51 a.m. SYDNEY, Deoember 12. Ihe State Government has abandoned the Lotteries Bill. The session will conclude on Saturday. .Received Deoember 12, 10.38 p.m. SYDNEY, December 12. In thi* Assembly, the Hon. J. H. OaxTuthers (Premier) announced that his statement in reference to the Lotteries Bill had been misrepresented. The Government intended to take the Bill this session. VICTORIAN LICENSING BILL. Received Deoember 12, 9.51 a.mJ MELBOURNE, Deo. 12. A ne.v clause inserted in the Licensing Bill enacts tb/»fc' whenever a licensing district looal option poll declares for reducton or no-license, the Treasurer shall compensate the lioensaes affected out of a compensation fund, but if the fund is insufficient the Treasurer shall require every holder of a lioense in the State to contribute pro rata to make up the amount required. If the licensee fails to complywith the demand within three months his license shall ipso facto become void. The clause was agreed to.