AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 15433, 5 March 1914, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

RAISING FRESH TAXES IN NEW

SOUTH WALES,

Press Association—By Telegrapn—Copyright

SYDNEY. March 4„ The 'Telegraph' understands *hat the outcome of to-day's caucus of the Labor party will be that the Income Tax exemption will be reduced from £3OO to £250, and be made to apply to present year incomes, but there will be no alteration of the existing allowance of £SO per child to the family rnan. The tax on incomes derived from rural lands will be raised from 6d to 8d in the £; and, following the New Zealand plan, a penny tax will be imposed on batik cheques and receipts.

SENSIBLE WOMEN OUT AGAINST FREAK FASHIONS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

MELBOURNE, March 5,

The Australasian Women's Conferenceresolved that all members of the association should refrain from using the prevailing fashion of indecorous attire. The mover indulged in a warm condemna tion of the prevailing fashions. She said that it was dreadful to see in the trams and trains women who were lost to all sense of decency and modesty. She was surprised that "the Government had not taken action. If the "unfortunate class'' of women wore such costumes the police would certainly arrest them. It was degenerating to respectable women to see others or their sex wearing insufficient clothing to cover the body. She had recently seen a window display of " tango" underskirts which were being viewed by more men than women. A delegate interjected : "It is like their cheek!" Another speaker urged that the women should take action in order to prevent such displays of indecency, which were "shocking and disgraceful-"

INTERESTING TO THE LADIES.

ADELAIDE, March 5.

The Aurora will return to Hobart and there await orders. Dr Mawson will shortly visit England in connection with his expedition. His forthcoming marriage to Miss Delparit, a daughter of the general manager of the Broken Hill Proprietary mine, is announced. MELBOURNE, March 5.

The Australasian Women's Conference decided to approach the Federal Govern ment with a view to obtaining an amend ment of the marriage law, in order to prevent the marriage of those unfit for parenthood. AN INEFFECTIVE PROTECT. SYDNEY, March 5. As the statistics showed th*at 40,000 persons availed themselves of the recentlyafforded opportunity of travelling during church hours on Sunday night, the Railway Commissioners " turned down" the protest by the Evangelical Council.

NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS

SYDNEY, March 5

The debate on the Address-in-Reply in the Assembly was responsible for some strong criticism directed against the Holman Government's general policy and their attitude towards the strikes.

A MUCHLY DISAPPOINTED MAN.

SYDNEY, March 5. (Received March 5, at 9.50 a.m.)

Mr Hugh Spence, ex-Sydneyite, . who for some years was engaged in horsebreeding in New Zealand, has returned. He states that New Zealanders exhibit considerable prejudice against Sydneyites, and declares that when he first arrived in the Dominion he presented his Sydney testimonials, but found it impossible to do business with the merchants. This state of affairs existed for three months. He also complains that the Australian coinage is not accepted in New Zealand. He does not intend to return to New Zealand.

THE MAWSON EXPEDITION : RARE DISCOVERIES.

SYDNEY, March 5. Dr M'Lean (the bacteriologist) and Mr Hurley (the photographer of the Mawson expedition) have returned to Sydnev. Dr M'Lean has added a few details to what is already known. He said that the story was a long one, but it was not for him to tell. When Dr Mawson's book came out the public would read the whole thing. Amongst bfJier important discoveries, they had found the nests of Antarctic petrels, which had never before been seen, also six Ross seals of a very rare species, while their dredging operations had resulted in many rare and new specimens being obtained.