COMMONWEALTH PROBLEMS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 17 November 1930, Page 11

COMMONWEALTH PROBLEMS.

government criticised. FINANCIAL PAPER'S VIEWS. (CSLI'XD PHESS ASSOCIATION' —BIT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received November ICth, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 15. Commenting on Sir Otto Niemeyer's departure from Australia, the "Financial News" regrets that his frank and convincing exposure of Australia's economic maladies has thus far proved disappointingly ineffective. "Little progress towards positive reconstruction has been made," says the paper. "There can be no glossing over the fact that the Commonwealth Government has failed to live up to its fixed determination of less than three months ago.'' FEDERAL TAXATION MEASURES. CANBERRA, November 15. ■Mr •!. A. Lyons (Acting-Federal Treasurer) announced that the Government had decided to exclude from taxation persons whoso total income from property exclusively, or partly from property, and partly from personal exertion, did not exceed £.200. Tho previous exemption was £IOO. COMMON WEA LTH'S UNEMPLOYED. CANBERRA, November 15. It, is estimated that the number of unemployed in Australia to September oOtlt was 180,000, compared with 85,000 at, the end of 1928. The number of trade unionists idle was f'0,379, compared with 42,637. BANKERS' CONFERENCE. MELBOURNE, November 15. A conference of bankers meets on Monday hero to review tho financial situation, arrange the maintenance of Australian credit, and ensure tho success of the conversion loan, for which many enquiries aro already reported.

INDEBTEDNESS OF FARMERS. I'EBTH, November 15. Storekeepers throughout the agricultural districts arc protesting against the Farmers Debts Adjustment Bill, which is considered detrimental to their interests. The Grocers' Association estimates that the farmers owe nearly £3,000,000 to country storekeepers.