AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 250, 21 October 1926, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.

DISASTROUS FIRE

REGATTA GEAR DESTROYED. (By Cable.—rress Association.—Copyright.) (Received 1 p.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Fire destroyed the boatsheds o* several rowing clubs on the Yarra River. A number of racing craft and equipment of teams which will compete at the Henley regatta on -Saturday have been destroyed. The clubs affected are the Hawthorne, Essendon, Footscray, Albert Park, Richmond and Melbourne. The damage will amount to many thousands of pounds. It is reported that the regatta will be held if boats can be secured from the Great Public Schools Committee. VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT OUTVOTED. (Received 12.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. After the Victorian Government had been defeated in the Legislative Assembly by 32 votes to 25 on a formal motion for the adjournment of the House, moved by the Leader of the Opposition yesterday, it was announced that the Cabinet had decided to disregard the adverse vote and to proceed with ordinary business unless it is challenged by a direct motion of no-confidence. In that event the Ministry will fight the motion to a finish. AGAIN DEFEATED, In the Assembly the Victorian Government was again defeated, this occasion on a Budget proposal to impose a tax of 1J per cent on bookmakers' turnover. The voting was 31 to 30. Three Ministerialists and one Country Progressive voted against the Government. After the Premier's statement that the Government intended to proceed with the business, notwithstanding the previous night's vote, Mr. Hogan, Leader of the Opposition, gave notice of his intention to move a motion disapproving of the action of the Ministry and expressing the opinion of the House that its previous decis«*:i with reference to the Caulfield accident should be conveyed to the Railway Commissioners. When the House passed to other business the Opposition bitterly attacked the Ministry for attempting to take the House into committee to consider the betting- tax while a vote of censure was hanging over it. They contended that no Government business should be proceeded with until Mr. Hogan's motion, which the Government had refused to accept without notice, was dealt with. It was upon this issue rather than upon the merits of the proposed tax that the matter was fought and a vote taken. ' ANOTHER SYDNEY FIRE. SYDNEY, October 20. Two sections of the huge works of the Colonial Combing, Spinning and Weaving Company at Botany, five miles south of Sydney, were destroyed by an outbreak of fire.

The damage is estimated at £15,000.