AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15489, 22 December 1913, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

NEW SOUTH WALES PARTIES.

MAJORITY OF 12 FOR LABOUR.

By Teleeiaph—Press Association— (Received December 22, 12.25 a.m.) Stdnet, December . 21. The latest election returns, which are( not likely to be altered, show that the constitution of the new Parliament will be as follows:— • Labour SO '' Liberals ... ... 33 Independents ...' 2 LOCAL STATE GOVERNORS. WEST AUSTRALIAN SUGGESTION. Perth, December 20. The correspondence between tie Imperial authorities and the Premier of West Australia (Mr. John Scadden) regarding the resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly in November last year, asking that the Colonial Office should reconsider the question of the appointment of State Governors with a view to permitting citizens of the Commonwealth to occupy the office, has been published. The reply of Mr. Lewis Harcourt (Secretary of State for the Colonies), while attaching great weight to a proposal which was supported by the Assembly, and endorsed by Ministers, stated that a change in the present system could not tie entertained unless it applied to all tho Austra- ■ lian States, and public opinion was ' demonstrated overwhelmingly in its favour, NEW VICTORIAN MINISTRY. MR. WATT AGAIN' IN OFFICE. . (Received December 22, 12.25 a.m.) Melbourne, December 21. Mr. W. A. Watt, ex-Premier, has formed a new Ministry, with himself as The other portfolios have been allotted as follows Treasurer, Mr. J. Murray; Chief Secretary, Sir A. Peacock; Minister for Education and Labour, Mr. McKinnon; Attorney-General and Minister for Railways, Mr. Larson; Minister for Lands, Mr. Hutchinson; Minister for Agriculture and Water Supply, Mr. DryS-. dale; Minister for Mines, Forests, and Health, Mr. J. Hagelthorn; Minister for Works, Mr. W. L. Baillieu. Messrs. Adamson, Livingstone, and Gray are but honorary Ministers. NEW SOUTH WALES HARVEST. (Received December 2-2, 12.25 a.m.) Sydney, December 21. The Government, statistics of the midharvest, estimates the wheat yield at 41,800,000 bushels, an average of 13.3 bushels per acre. This shows an increase of 9,313,000 bushels on the last harvest. TWO MORE SMALLPOX CASES. (Received December 22. 12.25 a.m.) Sydney, December 21. Two smallpox cases' were reported to-.' da£ , . >