AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18424, 9 December 1921, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

/ SYDNEY’S LORD MAYOR. > ALDERMAN. M'ELHONE SELECTED. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, December 7. Alderman W. P. MElhone has been selected by the Civic Reform Party for the Lord Mayoralty. His election to-mor-row is assured. \ NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. SYDNEY, December 7. Rumours are thick over a possible crisis in connection with the motion of no confidence which was giveri~-notice of by Sir George Puller in the Assembly last night, including one that Mr Levy intends to resign the Speakership which would leave the Government with a minority. The House is discussing the Estimates, and Sir G. Fuller’s motion was delayed. JOURNALISTS’ AWARD. SYDNEY, December 7. The Country Press Association and the Journalists’ Association agreed to a new award giving increases of from 6s to 11s weekly in the case of daily papers, and 2s 6d to 10s for bi-weeklies and triweeklies. RECORD GOLD SHIPMENT. , SYDNEY, December 8. A record shipment' of sovereigns (400,000) was placed on board the Ventura for San Erancisco. PICTURE THEATRES. MELBOURNE, December 8. Statistics regarding pictures show that in Australia there were 60,000,000 attendances at 808 theatres in a year. There is one theatre to every 6250 of population, against 6000 in America, and 5800 in Great Britain. THE AIR DISASTER. PERTH, December 8. Major Brearley suggests that Lieutenant Fawcett endeavoured to land on tricky ground, which was surrounded by ta|l gum trees, that the machine stalled, and that it was too low for recovery. MELBOURNE, December 7. The Acting Minister of Defence (Mr Ryrie) explained that the aerial disaster was not due to faulty landing places, as two other machines had already landed safely. THE MINING ACCIDENT. ANOTHER VICTIM SUCCUMBS. PERTH, December 8. Steve ‘ Hicks, who was injured in the mining accident, is dead. This is the fifth death. FEDERAL POLITICS. CONVENTION BILL SHELVED. MELBOURNE, December 8. The House of Representatives, by 51 votes to 9, adjourned the debate on the Convention Bill, thus virtually shelving it. Mr Fowler proposes to move an amendment to Dr Earl Page’s motion to reduce salaries by suggesting a sliding scale in accordance with the distance travelled. Members within two hours of Parliament would receive £6OO ner annum, 12 hours £7OO, and others £BOO. A short Bill was introduced providing that no person shall be eligible for nomination for the House of Representatives or the* Senate it he is a member of a State Parliament, or possesses the right under the State law to be reappointed in the event of defeat at a Federal contest. The Bill is a counterblast to the State legislation enabling sitting members to contest Federal vacancies. EXCHANGE DUTY. MELBOURNE, December 7. The exchange in the Anti-Dumping Bill, which was agreed to, provides that if the exchange’s value in the exporting country depreciates, enabling Australian importers to buy at prices detrimental to Australian industry an exchange duty may be imposed. AMALGAMATED WIRELESS. MELBOURNE, December 7. Air Hughes moved that the House approve of the agreement proposed between the commonwealth and the Amalgamated Wireless Company. Mr Charlton suggested referring the matter to a select committee. He pointed out that the radio scheme was less expensive. The debate was adjourned.