AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22259, 11 May 1934, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

'.;.;'", WEATHER IMPROVING. DANGER OP FLOODS PASSED. . ' SYDNEY, May 10. The danger of serious floods on the Richmond River has passed, the weather having improved suddenly. All creeks and rivers on the south coast of Queensland remain in flood, and traffic is dislocated in a number of districts, while oil the north coast of Queensland considerable damage has been caused to sugar and banana plantations by a severe gale. HELP FOR REEFTON MINERS. THE STRIKE ENDORSED. . : SYDNEY, May 10. A meeting of the Waterside Workers' Union, after hearing addresses by the New Zealand Labourites, Messrs O'Brien and Webb, on the Reefton gold miners, decided to endorse the miners' strike and give financial assistance. THE FINANCIAL YEAR.A SURPLUS EXPECTED. CANBERRA, May 10. It is estimated that the Commonwealth Government will end the financial year with a surplus of-between £500,000 and £750,000, and the Wxt Budget is expected to afford further tax remissions, though not of a far-reaching character. OFFER FOR TRAMWAY SYSTEMS. A PRIVATE SYNDICATE. v SYDNEY, May 10. (Received May 10, at 7 p.m.) It is reported that a, definite offer for the purchase of the Sydney and Newcastle tramway systems has been submitted to the State Government by a private syndicate. It is understood that it is offering in the neighbourhood of £5,000,000. The Premier (Mr B. S. Stevens) declined to discuss the subject. PREMIER QUESTIONED. SYDNEY, May 10. (Received May 10, at 9 p.m.) In the Legislative Assembly, a Labour member, Mr J. M. Baddeley, asked the Premier whether it was true that the Government had received an offer of £5,000,000 for the trams. Is so would he give Parliament an opportunity of discussing the matter? Mr Baddeley declared that the Labour members were strongly opposed to the sale of the trams, especially as revenue from them was increasing. The Premier replied that the Government could not dispose of the trams without parliamentary authority, consequently it was no use pursuing the subject. SKIN FIRM HEAVILY FINED. ; .' . \ ; ' SYDNEY, May 10. (Received May 10, at 11.15 p.m.) Fines amounting to £2766 were to-day imposed on Riley Newman, Ltd., of Sydney, for having in their possession 1291. opossum skins, as opossums are protected animals. PURCHASES OF WHEAT. REPLY TO COMPLAINT. SYDNEY, May 10. Mr G. Walker, a member of a firm of wheat agents, replying to Sir Benjamin Fuller's statement that he was unable to purchase wheat in Australia, said that possibly Sir Benjamin Fuller had not been able to make the purchase because his overseas friends were not prepared to pay the price demanded by the farmer, and doubtless he was unable to obtain a quotation for Australian wheat because he did not know where to go to get one.