THE COMMONWEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 940, 6 October 1910, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH.

POSTS AND telegraphs: INTERESTING PROPOSALS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. October 5, 10.10 p.m.) . .. Melbourne, October 5. The report of the Commonwealth Postal Commission has been tabled in the House, of Representatives. It recommends: The appointment of three directors as a board of . management. The writing off of the present deficit by the provision of 662,000,000 as capital account. 1 The introducing, of a uniform penny postage in the Commonwealth,' when the telephone and telegraphic services are selfsupporting.. , , v ■ The 1 nationalisation' of ,the cable service.- . ■'/ ; 5 ' J. : ' ' The fixing of the annual telephone rental at ss;,,~with,.a: charge of: ss. for the first 500 calls, then -is. per hundred for calls up to fifteen hundred, and 3s. per hundred beyond that. • EFFECT OF THE LAND TAX. v London, October 4. . The newspaper "Scotsman" states that the jfull text of ~ the Federal Land Tax Bill has not removed the . belief that the measure has injuriously affected the Commonwealth's stability and-.credit. -British capital cannot be expected,to: ilow freely, when funds .are .placed under.i! a .special burden. 1: .

The Bill, the paper considers, will render a drought a.heavier burden .than before. -The big .squatter may .be; able-.to hold out, but ;the ; little ; squail^r..will .be; ruined. ■ ..; ''' ■ NAVAL BILL PASSED. Melbourne) October 5. A Bill to grant <62,590,000.: for Naval Defence purposes passed all stages in the Federal House. was passed congratulating South Africa on the, consummation' of union. ■.v., _____ 'V.:-;; . ' A CRUISER ORDERED. ' ' London, October 4. The "Shipping. Gazette" states that the order for a second-rdass .cruiser. for . Australia has been. entrusted to the Elswick firm (Armstrong's). MINISTERIAL PLANS. (Rec. October 6, 1 a.m.) Melbourne, October 5. The Prime Minister, ; Mr. Fisher, has sailed for South Africa, to' represent Australia at the opening of ,'the Union Parliament. : Before liis departure Cabinet de- ; cided that Mr. Fisher, with : one .'or more •of. the Mipisters,"v shall attend': the Imperial Conference in London next year.".

PROGRESS OF LEGISLATION. . i • (Rcc. October 6, 1 a.m.) ; Melbourne, Ootober 5; . .In the House of .Representatives . the. Bill 'empowering Parliament to' take over monopolies was read a first time. - The debate on the Land 1 Tax Bill was continued. '