NATIONAL REGISTRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23831, 10 June 1939, Page 14

NATIONAL REGISTRATION

THE AUSTRALIAN BILL ' AMENDMENT INCLUDED (United Press Association) (By Elect ' Telegraph—Copyright) CANBERRA, June 9. The Minister of Defence (Mr G. A. Street) announced in the House of Representatives that the Government proposed to accept Mr Nairn's amendment for the inclusion of a census of wealth in the National Registration Bill.

A previous message read: The Menzies Government is again facing n crisis as the result of Mr W. M. Nairn, of Western Australia, submitting an amendment to the National Registration Bill providing for a census of wealth. The Country Party is reported to be supporting Mr Nairn, who, with the aid of Labour, may cause withdrawal of the Bill, or, alternatively, the resignation of the Ministry, which is stoutly opposed to a census of wealth. Federal Treasury officials recently discovered evidence of a movement of capital on a substantial scale from Australia for reinvestment in Britain. This is believed to be due to a recent sharp rise in the actual interest rate on Commonwealth gilt-edged securities in London, which is at times more than 25 per cent, greater than the Australian rate. It is now believed that the London rates have been stabilised at a level sufficiently close to the Australian level to eliminate inducement for further transfers WEALTH CENSUS APPROVED CANBERRA, June .9. (Received June 10, at 1 a.m.) The compulsory census of property to be taken in conjunction with the national register of man-power was approved this afternoon by the House of Representatives by 29 votes to 23. Every person owning property worth not less than £SOO will be required to complete a census form containing 20 questions, which do not include income.