POLITICS IN AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 166, 15 July 1910, Page 5

POLITICS IN AUSTRALIA.

RAILWAY DUPLICATION.

ME. FISHER TO VISIT AFRICA.

tPy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 9.40 ami.)

SYDNEY, this day. The Legislative Council's bill to regulate the notification of consumption has been read a first time. In the House of Assembly, the Railway Loan Bill passed committee unopposed, It was stated that the loan would be raised locally, and would carry interest at the rate of four per cent. The Treasurer stated that two millions, the amount of the proposed loan, would be sufficient for railway duplication for two years. In regard to the note issue, Mr. Ksher said the Government would not repudiate any State Act giving some banks rights for some years to run. The Federal Parliament has been invited to send a representative to the opening of the South African Union Parliament. Probably Mr. Fisher win accept. THE FINANCIAL AKHASGE- i MEira. TEN YEARS' SETTLEMENT. (Received 9.50 ajn.) MELBOURNE, this day. Mr. Fisher,- in moving the second reading of the Surplus Revenue Bill, providing for the payment of 25/ per head to the States for ten yeavs from the beginning of the present month, pointed out that a special concession of a-quarter of a million would be made to Westralia, i and deductions made during the current | financial year of £150,000 from the States ! to meet the Commonwealth deficit. He explained that as it would not be legal to bring the payment into operation on : the first of July, be was going to pay the State the full three-quarters Customs revenue up to the end of December, but | square up accounts so as to bring the total payment for the year up to 25/ per ' head. New South Wales' contribution | towards the payment of the Commonwealth deficit was £173,973, Victoria £143,092, Queensland £63,783, South Australia £30,52.9, Westralia £20,113, Tasmania £13,500. Mr. Deakin and some other Opposition members criticised the proposals in a , friendly spirit. Others opposed them on the ground that Mr. Fisher's methods i of dealing with the finances were uncon- j statutdonal. Mr. Deakin declared that the Opposition generally recognised this I as a settlement of financial relations j with the States for the next two years.