AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19203, 20 June 1924, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

INDEBTEDNESS OF COMMONWEALTH.

HUGE TOTAL DISCLOSED,

Press Association—3y Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, Juno 19.

Dr Earle Page (Federal Minister of Finance) tabled a return showing that the total indebtedness of the commonwealth at March 31 last amounted to £963,484,740. Of this the commonwealth’s share was £417,606,099, and that of the States (including loans by the. Commonwealth Government to the States amounting to £56,290,011) totalled £550,878,641. The States’ sinking unds totalled £16,053,539, and that of the commonwealth £2,190,040.

Dr Page states that a check is now imposed on loan raising by the Loan Council, which consists of the Treasurers of the States and the commonwealth.

CONTROL OF BROADCASTING. MELBOURNE, June 19,

In tho House of Representatives Mr Bruci promised to make an early statement regarding the. controlling of broadcasting in Australia, but it appears that difficulties have arisen which probably will delay action. The conference of those interested in broadcasting which was recently held at Sydney made certain recommendations which” the Ministry seems unlikely to adopt. The present proposal is to form a company with a capital of £200,000, the shares in which may be acquired by anyone within certain limits. Before this can be done it will be necessary to have tho arrangement approved by the existing broadcasting companies, and to settle the basis of compensation to them for any losses they- may incur through going out of business. This is causing much difficulty. It is stated that the new plan the Ministry seems likely to’ adopt will involve the abandonment of the present regulations governing scaled sets.

TRADE WITH THE EAST. MELBOURNE, June 19,

Mr Bruce stated that Cabinet had refused a request for subsidies for the proposed direct service of steamers between Australia and China.

MELBOURNE CITY RATES. MELBOURNE, June 19

Cabinet has approved of a recommendation to reduce the general sewerage rate from lOgd to 9d, and the water rate from to Tad,

THE LABOUR PROGRAMME. SYDNEY, June 19

Mr J. T. Lang, Leader of the State Labour Party, in the course of a policy speech, declared that if Labour were retuned to power it would legislate for the re-introduction of the 44-hour week, absolute preference for trade unionists, unemployment insurance, a new standard of living,' and the socialisation of industry.

THE BELLBIRD, DISASTER. SYDNEY, June 19. (Received June 19, at 10.30 p.m.) A second body, which has been identified as tliat of J. Brown, late manager of the Aberdaro colliery, has been found at Bellbird. Brown was one of the rescue party which entered tho mine.

WOOD CHOPPING CONTEST. MELBOURNE, June 19,

(Received June 19, at 10.30 p.m.) In the 14in standing log challenge woodchopping contest Jim Walker (Tasmania) dcicatcd” Mick Keating (New Zealand).

LICENSING LEGISLATION.

P \RLIAMENTARIANS INTERVIEWED. (Feb United Press Association i AUCKLAND, Juno 19. A largo deputation from the Now Zealand Alliance met a number of members of Parliament tins morning to discuss housing legislation. Mr Falkiner. president of the local Prohibition Committee, said that every candidate next election would bo expected to make some statement regarding his stand on the liquor question, and bis statement would be published by the Alliance, which wished the issues confined to Continuance and Prohibition.

Mr Harris, M.P., said that .in honourable understanding existed between the Liquor Party and the Prohibitionists that there should ho a third issue of State Control. Mr Falkiner said that this had been ro peitedly denied. Mr Lee, M.P.. said he would state his views when he knew what was proposed. The policy of the Labour Party would he his policy. Mr Jordan said that the Labour Party had no policy on the litpior question. Personally lie favoured the bare majority on a straight-out issue, but one section of the people thought that Corporate Control should bo submitted. If it should bo, ho was prepared to support the transferable vote. , ... , . Mr Bar tram said the principle of democracy would always come first with him.