AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9103, 1 June 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association-P»v Klectric Telegraph Copyright,

THE FEDERAL TARIFF. MELBOURNE, May 30. The Federal Senate finally dealt with the tariff. It decided not to press any of its requests with which the House had failed to agree. THE BENDIGO MURDER. MELBOURNE, May 30. Manning, sentenced to death for wife murder, has been declared insane, and his sentence commuted to one of imprisonment for life. Manning lured his wife from home and killed her. He then attempted to commit suicide. COMMONWEALTH AND STATES. MELBOURNE, May SO. Consternation has been caused the various State Treasuries owing to the Federal Treasurer (Sir William Lyne) issuing instructions not to pay any balances of revenue back to the States for the month of May, or any later period, until further notice. ■ Sir John Forrest (West Australia) raised the question in the Federal House. He declared it to be a violation of the constitution and an arbitrary illegality cahulatid to embarrass the State finances. Sir William Lyne explained that he had hoped the Surplus Revenue Bill, which deals with these btlancds, would have been passed, but as the Bill was not yet law, the money would be paid in the usual way. Sir William Lyne was heckled as to his intentions, .but declined to be drawn. Received June 1, 12.40 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 31. Sir William Lyne has withdrawn his notices withholding payment of revenue balances to States for the month of May. MR BENT'S POLICY SPEECH. Received June 1, 12.40 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 31. Mr T. Bent delivered his policy speech, yesterday, in the course of which he said that owing to drought the revenue had fallen of? greatly during the pa;.t two. months, and would continue to do so for some time. He estimated that the year would end with a deficit of £140,000.