AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16822, 12 April 1918, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

COMMONWEALTH FINANCE. A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, April 11. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Joseph Cook, introducing the Supply Bill for £5,000,000, stated that the revenue. fo» the past nine months was £1,291,000 below tho estimate, but the expenditure wai £2,047,000 below the estimate, therefore the Government was actually in a belter position than it expected to the extent of £756,000. THE FEDERAL POLICY. MELBOURNE, April U. Mr. W. A. Watt, the Federal Treasurer, announced today that he had extended the closing date of the war loan to April 21. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Watt, introducing the Supply Bill, said he proposed to submit earl}' in the new financial year the Government's new taxation proposals. Mr. Joseph Cook, outlining the policy of Cabinet, said that the Government proposed to establish a bureau of commerce and industry in charge if a business man. who would act with representatives of the various industries. Defects in t.ho industrial machinery would be removed, and provision made for enlisting for Home dofence persons between the ages of 21 and 50 ineligible for service aDroad. The Income Tax Bill would be amended, constituting the employer a collecting agent for the Department when the employee fails to pay, with power to deduct from the employee's wages. ENCOURAGING RECRUITING. SYDNEY, April 11. A number of business men have offered to insure 1000 men enlisting for £200 each, WHEAT PRICES RAISED. • ■ BYDNEY, April 11. The State Cabinet has increased the guaranteed price of wheat to 4s *l country stations.