AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1940, Page 10

AUSTRALIA

HEAVY RAINS. [BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] SYDNEY, Decembei’ 3. The Metropolitan water supply has substantially benefited by soaking rain which began on Saturday, and which ceased only to-day, adding three months’ supply to the storage at all of the reservoirs. The entire coast, as well as many inland centres, have had a thorough soaking, bringing relief to threequarters of the State. Useful rains have also fallen in Queensland, and in parts of Victoria and South Australia. AIRMAN KILLED. SYDNEY, December 3. A plane crashed near the Narrowmine Flying School to-day. Ah' Force Instructor Guy Hubbard was killed. Pilot trainee William Bate sustained a fractured leg, and minor injuries. The machine was about to land when it spun to the earth. BUDGET DEBATE

CANBERRA, December 3. The debate on the Federal Budget and the Labour Party’s amendment was resumed in the House of Representatives to-day. It is expected to end to-morrow night, in a near political crisis, with the fate of the Menzies Government depending on the vote of the Independent member for Wimmera (Victoria), Mr. Wilson, who, at some stage of the discussion to-mor-row, will reveal his attitude on the Government’s financial proposals. Mr. Wilson is reported to be desirous of driving a hard bargain on behalf of the wheat grower s-who already have been promised a financial subsidy arising from the loss of markets and by the drought. Mr. Wilson, however, wants still more help, which the Prime Minister (Mr. Manzies), is not prepared to provide.

STRANDED SHIP I MELBOURNE, December 3. Captain Gilling (Master), and the officers were exonerated from all blame for the stranding of the coastal liner “Orungai,” near Barwon Heiads, on November 21. The Court of Marine Inquiry found the ship was off its course owing to a strong set in the current and the thick weather,