AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 18057, 26 August 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

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

GOVERNMENT RETRENCHMENT. BRISBANE, August 25. Against strong opposition, the Government gagged’ the Bill reducing the salaries of members of -Parliament and certain sections of the Public Service through the second reading stages. NE TEMERE DECREE. ADELAIDE, August 25. The annual conference of the Protestant Federation of Australia, representing a membership of 400,000, resolved to ask the Federal and State , Governments to legislate to prevent the operation of the Ne Temero decree; SYDNEY’S CITY SURVEYOR. SYDNEY, August 25. In the Equity Court, Albert Brigg, city surveyor, applied for an ex parte injunction to restrain the City Council Lorn proceeding upon a resolution passed by the council directing an investigation into the city surveyor’s department. The application arose out of writs _ issued by Mr Brigg on August 1 -claiming £2,000 each from*the ‘Evening News’ and the ‘Daily Telegraph’ for alleged libel. The applicant stated that if the council’s resolution were carried out it would greatly prejudice his action- and interfere with the duo course of justice. The court granted the applicant leave to eerve_ a short notice of motion for an injunction on the City Council for Thursday next. ECONOMY IN BUILDING. A REGULATION RELEASED. SYDNEY, August 26. (Received August 26, at 10 a.m.) There has been considerable Press comment over a recently-gazetted local government regulation which permits a reduction in the height of living rooms from 10ft to 9ft. Tho change is supported by many medical men and architects, who claim that while it will materially reduce the cost of building it will not bo prejudicial to health and' comfort. SMALLER STATES. SYDNEY, August 26. (Received August 26, at 9.15 a.m.) The Farmers’ Conference resolved in favor of subdividing Australia into smaller States, as by this means community of interest would be better served.