MILES OF LAND SUBMERGED.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20272, 25 June 1931, Page 9

MILES OF LAND SUBMERGED.

DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS. SYDNEY-MELBOURNE TRAFFIC SUSPENDED. SOUTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY BUCCTBIC TELEGEAPH—COPYUIGHT.) (Received June 24th, 8.25 .p.m.) SYDNEY, June 24. Latest reports from the flooded areas of Southern New South Wales and the northern portions of Victoria disclose deplorable conditions. Three hundred inhabitants of Wagga were driven from their homes, taking shelter at the Showground. Passengers by the Melbournehound express were marooned at Junee owing to extensive washaways. All traffic hy road and rail between Sydney and Melbourne is suspended. The Murrimbidgee and the Luchlan rivers arc heavily flooded, and it is feared that they will reach a record height. Along the Murray river there are places where the flood .is only a foot below record level. All the principal centres report that rain continues. Hundreds of miles of c the southern pastoral country is under water, and tremendous destruction is occurring. All along the Victorian border tho land is submerged for many miles. Thousands of acres* of dairy land in tho neighbourhood of Wodonga havo been submerged for a fortnight and now the Federal capital is threatened with the worst flood in its history owing to the overflowing of the Molonglo river. Floods again are likely to assumo serious proportions in the central and southern districts. The rivers, as the result of further heavy rains, are carrying a huge amount of water. All roads in the Urana district are impassable owing to flood waters from the Lockliart, causing, the water supply dairi to overflow. Men are employed day and night keeping the whole structure from washing away. About 20,000 acres of soldiers' settlement land is covered to a depth of from two to eight feet. The Murray overflowed its banks at Albury. The, whole wheat belt of Eastern Riverina is affected. Ganmain is expecting the biggest flood in years, as the huge Burrinjack dam is filled to its utmost capacity. TWO MEN DROWNED. Two men already have been drowned —Alfred Hicks (50), at Culcairn, and Cyril Underwood (30), near Orange. ASSISTANT MINISTER RESIGNS. (Received June 25th, 1.10 a.m.) CANBERRA, June 24. The Prime Minister, Mr Scullin, an-' nounced the resignation of the Assist-ant-Minister for Transport, Mr C. E. Culley, on the ground that he is unable to support the economy plan. His objections ( are similar to those of Mr E. J. Holloway, Assistant-Minister for Industry, who recently resigned. DEBT CONVERSION PLAN. FEDERAL LEGISLATION. (Received June 24th, IL3B p.m.) CANBERRA, June 24. As the Debt Conversion Agreement Bill in the House of Representatives progresses, more and more members of Mr Scullin's Party declare themselves uncompromisingly against the rehabilitation plan, of which this measure is tho first instalment. It is believed that when the vote is taken the Government will require tho full support of the Opposition in order to carry the day. WAGE REDUCTION. ULTIMATUM TO VICTORIAN MINISTERS. (Received June 24th, 11.88 p.m.) MELBOURNE, June 24. Tho. State Labour executive has sent . i ultimatum to tho Premier, Mr E. J." Hogan, and also Mr J. P. Jones, Minister for Public Works, that unless they opposed ,the reduction of wages andpensions under the Premiers' Conference financial plan, their endorsements as Labour candidates would be cancelled. It is reported that other Labour members of the Victorian Parliament contemplate supporting the Conference plan, in which case their endorsements will he withheld in the event of a crisis, which is regarded as being inevitable. VICTIMS OF MOTOR ACCIDENTS. HOSPITAL TREATMENT. TAX ON CARS AND CYCLES PROPOSED. (Received June 24th, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 24. The chairman of the New South Wales Hospitals Commission, Mr J. R. Love, suggests in his annual report to Parliament a tax on motor-cars and motor-cycles of 5s and 2s 6d respectively, thus raising a fund of £50,000 from which hospitals should be reimbursed for the treatment of car victims. Mr Love declares that a large part of hospital work now consists of attending and caring for victims of motorcar frcoidenta.