AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8529, 6 September 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

RABBITS IN QUEENSLAND.

Received September 5, 9.32 a.m. BRISBANE, September 5. Rabbits are invading the southwestern districts of the State in millions.

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION DE-

FEATED.

Received September 5, 8.34 a.m. HOB ART, September 5. The no-confidence motion was defeated by 17 to 11. (In the Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition tabled a motion disapproving of the personnel of the Education Commission. The Premier accepted this as a want of confidence motion).

SEAMEN'S WAGES. Received September 5, 9.32 a.m. SYDNEY, September 5. The new agreement between the Steamship Owners' Federation and the Federated Seamen's Union, has been signed. It takes effect from September next. No alterations have been made in the ordinary rate of pay, but overtime rates have been increased as cabled. Some alterations have been made in legard to holidays. (The overtime rate for seamen when a ship has been safely moored has been "raised to Is 3d, with a slight increase for boys). SHACKLETON ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. Received September 5, 9.32 a.m. SYDNEY, September 5. English advices state that Professor David, of Sydney University, has arranged to accompany the Shackleton Antarctic expedition to King Edward the Seventh Land. PENNY POSTAGE.

Rccived September 5, 9.32 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 5.

The Federal Postmaster - General states that there is little chance of a Penny Postage Bill passing this session. The departmental offcials strongly oppose it owing to the prospective loss of revenue. (The loss by penny postage would, according to the Federal Minister for Home Affairs, amount to £160,000 per annum. Judging by New Zealand's experience the loss would be overtaken in three or four years.)

NAVIGATION COMMISSION,

Received September 5, 9.59 a m. MELBOURNE, September 5.

A majority of the Navigation Comission recommend -v'at the coastal trade of the CorhmonWbalth should be reserve:! for ships on the Australiar Register or conforming to Australian conditions and licensed to trade on the coast, British mail steamers carrying passengers to be exempt from the reservation pending the co:struction of a railway between Western and South Australia.

They also recommend that subsidised foreign ships should be prohibited from participating in the coastal trade. ,

Endorsement is given to the Imperial Navigation Conference propcs:l for exempting from the new conditions those involving structural alterations as regards the.accommodation for officers and crew of all vessels built prior to the enactment of such conditions.

BRITISH SUBJECTS AS SEAMEN

Received September 5, 9.59 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 5. The Navigation C>mmission has presented iU final report to the Federal Government. The main recommendations is that only British subjects shall be cmployed o:i vessels registered in America.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BUDGET,

Received September 6, 12.33 a.m ADELAIDE, September 5.

. The Budget was delivered to-night. The Treasurer estimates to have a credit balance on June 30th next of £48,423. The estimated revenue for the financial year is £3,135,329. The prospects for the coming year were particularly good. The cutting up of large .estates for closer settlement had proved exceedingly profitable. The railway revenue had increased by £225,000 as compared with the previous year. The net income was equal to 5.15 per centum, of the capital cost. The Government would re-introduce a* progressive land tax ■jnd intended to spend £IOO,OOO on works out of revenue. During the year ending June next they estimated that they would have paid in the redemption of loans or in constructing works out of revenue a sum of £970,000 exclusive of the surplus which was expected at that date. A prominent feature of the Budget was the establishment of a minimum rate of seven shillings a day for all manual labourers in the employ of the State. The Treasurer hoped that private firms would follow this example.