AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Evening Star, Issue 9835, 25 October 1895, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

(Per Press Association.]

SYDNEY, October 25.

The rejection of the exemptions iu the Taxation Bill by the Council without attempting a compromise has rendered the position critical, and. the intentions of the Government are not yet disclosed.

ADELAIDE, October 25,

The provision in the State Advances Bill for a State bank has been revived. A test division on the issue of State notes, which involves the question of advances, will be taken on Wednesday. In the Council a proposal to allow reconsideration of the Salaries Bill was carried by the casting vote of the President.

SYDNEY, October 25. " In the Council the Land and Income Bill was amended by striking out the clause providing for land exemption by 36 to 11. The amendment omitting land within municipal areas from the tax was negatived. In the Assembly the Elections Act Amendment Bill, for removing the voting disabilities of seamen and providing for a renewal of electoral rights, and reducing the residential qualifications from three to one month, was passed through committee.

The ' Herald' says that if the Assembly support the Government in retaining the exemptions it is not improbable that further appointments will bo made to the Council, but there is still a possibility of a compromise by splitting the difference. The 'Tolograph' urges that as the Council have shown by adopting the second reading that they are willing to carry out the deolared will of the the proper course is to arrange a conference to consider a modified scale of

exemptions. MELBOURNE, October 25,

The Supply Bill was passed by the Council after tho Solicitor-General had given an assurance that he would readjust the President's salary so as to make the reduction proportionate to the other decreases.

The President'-of the Legislative Council, in a heated speech, complained that the Government had deliberately insulted the Council by assigning him a position in the Governor's procession after the junior Ministers l . Unless he was given his proper place ho would not take part in the ceremony. Several other members spoke in similar terms, but subsequently the President was able to announce that the difficulty had been overcome. BRISBANE, October 25.

In the Assembly the Premier stated that provision had been made in the new Torres Strait mail contract tg enable Queensland exporters to consign produce direct for any other port than London.