AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 18032, 28 July 1922, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association.

STATE TRAWLING INQUIRY,

SYDNEY, July 27,

An inquiry into the State trawling industry has commenced. Air Summergrecns (manager of the State trawlers) gave evidence that ho had signed a live years’ contract for a supply of coal on the verbal authority of Mr Dooley (ex-Premier), who gave him a free hand. At that time he knew nothing about .coal, but if lie bad known what he knew now he won];! have acted differently.

CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY,

■SYDNEY, July 27,

Charles Knight, who was charged with conspiring with several persons to bribe certain aldermen of the City Council in connection with the Martin place extension scheme, was remanded.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT.

ADELAIDE, July 27.

Parliament was opened by the Lieuten-ant-Governor, whose speech was one of the shortest on record. He said that the Government intended to. erect grain silos on the Government properties and to cooperate with the Federal Government in its immigration scheme. The accumulated deficit to the end of June amounted to £1,554,567.

UNSEATING OF MR ASHFORD,

SYDNEY, July 27,

Tim unseating of Mr Ashford arose over the transfer of preference votes. The returning officer counted only the preference of surplus votes instead of taking a percentage of the.whole. The decision has caused, a "stir, as it negatives the present system' of ascertaining the transfer value of votes, and lias the effect of disfranchising a certain proportion of voters. Had appeals been lodged, several other seats would have been affected, _ but the time limit for such appeals having lapsed the sitting members are safe. FEDERAL SEATS.

MELBOURNE, July 28. (Received July 28, at 11.40 a,in.) In the House of Representatives, Dr Earl Page (leader of the Country Party) advocated a different scheme for ascertaining the number of seats to which each. Stale was entitled. He suggested, instead of adhering to the quota scheme, to divide the total number of electors by twice the number of Senators plus one. Mr Groom (Attorney-General) replied that the suggested substitute was unconstitutional Tu any case, Dr Page had given no good reason why it should be adopted. Conflicting opinions were expressed by both sides of the House, the division revealing 24 in favor of Dr Page’s scheme and 25 against it. Tho Country Party voted with Labor against the Government.

VICTORIAN ASSEMBLY. MELBOURNE, July 28. (Recived July 28, at 11.40 a.m.) In the Assembly, the leader of the Labor Party moved a’censure motion on the ground that the Government had accepted a private tender for the supply of hospital uniforms against a cheaper tender by the Commonwealth’s clothing factory. The vote will bo taken on Tuesday. COMING BACK TO NORMAL. -MELBOURNE, July 26. (Received July 28, at 11.40 a.m.) Senator Pearce announced in the Senate that the downward trend in production had been arrested. The figures for 1919-20 had been 74 per eenF. of those of 1913. and the figures for 1920-21 showed 84 per cent. PRICE OF GAS. "SYDNEY, July 28. (Received July 28, at 11.15 a.m.) The Gas Company is reducing the price of gas from 5s 8d to 5s 6d per thousand feet from August 4. ACCIDENTALLY KILLED. "SYDNEY, July 28. (Received July 28, at 11.40 a.m.) Tho coroner found that Mr King was accidentally killed through being kicked by a horse. A brother of the deceased said that he considered it a case of murder. This opinion was formed by the surrounding ci r c urns ta nc es. [Tho body of David King, a fanner, ot Branxtou (110 miles north-west of Sydney), was found near his farm partly burnt. There were two wounds- on the head, the skull being fractured. The body was found by his wife. It was lying face upwards on the fire.]

SYDNEY’S LORD MAYOR,

SYDNEY, July 23, (Received July 28, at 11.40 a-.m.)

The Lord Mayor’s contemplated resignation will be discussed by the Civic Reform Party on Tuesday. Tire resignation will lake effect unless the party reverses its vote on the mayor’s minute regarding the city surveyor.

WEATHER REPORTS.

SYDNEY, July 25.

(Received July 28, at 10.5 a.m.)

The Meteorlogist has authorised the restoration of the whole of the telegraphic weather service. The recent cyclone, it is staled, was a big factor in emphasising the necessity for State-wide information. ISLANDS SHIPPING SERVICE. MELBOURNE, July 28. (Received July 28, at 10,15' a.m.) Bums, Philp, and Co. tendered at £60.000 fer the maintenance of the Pacific Islands contract for three years. The amount was reduced to £55,000, at which figure it was accepted. Burns, Philp, and Co. were the only tenderers. Sir Hughes announced l that he had arranged an improved service, and a. reduction’ of freights on copra.