AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 15928, 7 October 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

DRASTIC LIQUOR REFORMS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright* ADELAIDE, October 7. (Received October 7, at 9.40 aura.) The South Australian Legislative Conncil passed a Bill closing the hotels at 5 o’clock, and a further amendment of the Licensing Act necessary to bring it into operation on the expiry of hotel licenses in March. A Bill was also introduced making it a, penal offence to supply liquor to soldiers in uniform. Several members intimated that they would support an amendment* making all shouting illegal. CHURCH AND AMUSEMENTS. MELBOURNE, October 7. (Received October 7, at 9.40 a.m.) The Anglican .Synod carried motions condemning the tptalisator, and urging the introduction of legislation to provide a referendum on the subject of pennan-* ently closing the hotels earlier. HYPOCRISY CONDEMNED. RACING AND SAVING. SYDNEY, October 7. (Received October 7, at 9 a.m.) The Presbyterian Church Committee passed a resolution protesting against representatives encouraging racing by theip attendance. The sport was at all timea a menace to tho morality of the community, and was especially dangerous in wartime. The committee could not find terms sufficiently strong to indicate their abhorrence of a national hypocrisy winch on the one hand pleads for recruits and for economy, and on the other hand encourages an institution having a conspicuously deleterious influence and involving an extraordinary waste of money ■through gambling. Copies of the resolution have been sent to the GovernorGeneral. the Prime Minister, and theState Premiers. QUEENSLAND TAXATION. BRISBANE, October 7. (Received October 7, at 9.40 a.m.) A Budget forecast states that there will he imposed new taxation on. automobiles, theatre ami picture-show tickets, an increase in the railway fares and freights, and further land taxation. RAILWAY COLLISION. ADELAIDE, October 6. Two passenger trains collided at Henley Beach. Two firemen and two guards were inj ured, and 22 passengers suffered bruises and shock. The engines and three carriages wore badly smashed. October 7. (Received October 7, at 8.30 a.m.) i The two engine-drivers were also in-C jured, Driver Fahey seriously. Some' passengers who were imprisoned in a telescoped carriage were rescued uninjured beyond shock and abrasions. THE WHEAT SITUATION. SYDNEY, October 7. j (Received October 7, at 9 a.m.) I Before the Commission, inquiring into the wheat claims evidence was given that the New South Wales Government bad imported to date 91,868,6851b of wheat, costing £474,980. The Commonwealth has entered into an agreement to secure freight for tl# exportable surplus of wheat. MR HOLMAN ANNOYED. SYDNEY, October 6. After a Caucus discussion Mr Holman, in the Assembly, replied to criticisms respecting payment to certain members <>f the Government and Opposition in tho State Parliament and a few Federal members of their expenses in connection with the late recruiting campaign. Altogether, £l5O had been paid according to agreement to cover their out-of-pocket expenses, to which he considered they were entitled. Mr Holman condemned the agitation by a certain section of ’.he Press as contemptible and dirty.