AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10308, 29 March 1894, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

[SviciAr. to Puss Association.] PROTECTION FOB FARMERS. • SYDNEY, Marsh 28, At the conference of: the Farmer*’' Associations it was decided to add a protection policy to the platform'of the Association. Out of eighty-four Associations only fifteen were represented at the « conference. Another fifteen are known to favour protection. NEW AUSTRALIA. Further communications have been received from New Australia, and even the warmest advocates of the colony hire to' admit that the administration in Paraguay has been a failure. NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. When the Appropriation Bill came before the Assembly to-night Mr Wise moved an amendment to suspend tba Standing Orders in order simply to allow of the passing of a Monthly Supply Bill. The Government accepted this as a want of confidence motion, and the debat* if now proceeding on those lines. ; VICTORIAN FINANCE. MELBOURNE, Mar*!* 28. From April 1 the Government , will reduce interest on deposits in the Savings Bank to 8 per cent. This step has been taken in consequence of the falling revenue. The Treasurer estimates the total debit balance at the end of the year at J 5400.000. MAORI LANDS. , The Argus, commenting on the opening of Maori lands, suggests that, as » matter of sentiment, it might be w«U fo c the Wellington legislators to wait until Rewi and the last of the chiefs who fought so gallantly for the right of the Maoris to hold Maori land should depart from the scene which they are now‘fast leaving.