COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 132, 5 June 1926, Page 9

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

A LABOUR CONFERENCE.

ENGINEDRIVERS AND FUtEHEN

THE COALFIELD STRIKE.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyrignt.)

(Received 12 Noon.) SYDNEY, this day. It was announced at a meeting of the Australian Labour party executive that the requisite number of unions had demanded that a special conference of the party should be held to deal with the agenda paper of the conference. The motion that the conference'be held Was rejected by fifteen votes to four. The leaders of the striking enginedrivers and firemen rejected the proposal of the miners for a compulsory conference. The strike has now been in progress for a month. The position of miners is becoming more acute, while they are depending upon Government assistance. The strikers are securing most of their financial support from fellow members of their organisation, who are not employed in coal mines and who levied from ten to thirty-five shillings weekly. The number ofystrikere ia about a thousand, but there are twelve thousand enginedrivers engaged in other pursuits than the mines. The Trades and Labour Council appointed a deputation to wait on the Premier, Mr. Lang, when he returns from his holiday and to ask him to intervene in an endeavour to effect settlement.— (A. and K.Z.)

STATES AND COMMONWEALTH.

TAXATION AND RELIEF.

(Received 12.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. In the Federal House of Representatives, speaking on the bill to amend the Surplus Revenue Act, Dr. Earle Page, Treasurer, said the total taxation to be surrendered under the new proposals was Per capita payments to the States which are also to be abolished amounted to £7,687,500. The Commonwealth will make adjusting granta to four States, namely, £280,000 to South Australia, ££23,000 to West Australia, £152,000 to Tasbania, and £136,000 to Queensland. In addition West Australia is to be granted special assistance during the next five years Amounting to £450,000 per annum. Tasmania is to receive assistance of £378,000 per annum for two years. Dr. Earle Page said there would be a gain to the taxpayers of the States of £1,527,852. Any surplus revenue in the hands of the Treasurer at the close of the financial year will be paid the States in■ proportion to population. The Commonwealth can advance moneys, free of interest to .States in anticipation* of revenue to be received, but £his must be paid back before the end of the. financial year in which it is made.— (A. and N.Z.) : '

MINERALS IN AUSTRALIA.

AN EXCEIXEICT TEAR. - . -{Received 12 Neon.) - -■■; ■ SYDNEY, this day. The annual report of the Itepartnlent of Mines for 1925 shows that the output for the year was valued at £"19,-109,000, constituting a record, being £486,000 in excess of the value for 1924. The silver mines contributed chiefly to this result, their yield amounting to £6,343,000, an increase of £736,000 over the previous year. Coal won amounted to 11,396,000 tons, valued at £9,302,000, representing 222,000 tons and £287,000 in value less than 1924.