NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 40

NEWS BY CABLE.

DOUBLE TAXATION. A deputation of representatives of the Imperial Council of Commerce, leading merchants, bankers., insurance, shipping, produce, and mining interests urged Mr Masscy and Sir Joseph Ward to secure relief from the double income tax. Mr Massey expressed sympathy with the deputation's views and said he was conscious of the effect duplicate taxation would be likely to have in diminishing the em ployment of capital abroad. He considered the double tax inequitable, and hoped when the Imperial Conference, which ought to have met in the early stage's of the war, was summoned, the question would be thoroughly considered. Sir J. G. Ward stated that he had personally made representations to Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George in past years against the double taxation system, which should not bo allowed to continue. Taxation should be placed on a basis that would not be a cause of friction between different parts of the Empire. He contended that the income tax should only be paid where income was earned. He promised to make representations to Mr Bonar Law. who, he hoped, would see the justice of the claim. Sir Joseph Ward told the deputation that he could not abate New Zealand's tax on agencies.

NEW PEER?. On the recommendation of Mr Asquith, on his retirement from the Prime Ministership, the following new peers were created: Viscounts: Lords Sandhurst and Cowdray, and Mr Lewis V. Harcourt, M.P. Barons: Mr Joseph A. Pease, Sir J. A. Dewar, Sir T. Roc, and Sir O. Partington, M.P.'s. The Right Hon. C. B. Stuart-Wortley, M.P. for Hallam, and Mr Austin (?), M.P.. have been raised to the Peerage. Their probable successors in the House of Commons will be the new Ministers —Sir Albert Stanley and Mr H. A. L. Fisher. DEATH OF THEBAW. The death is announced of Thcbaw, exKing of Burma, at Ratnagiri, or heart and kidney disease. Ho spent 30 years in exile in slothful contentment and ease. Queen Supa Ya Lat died in 1911. •"Thebaw, on ascending the throne of Burma in 1879, massacred all his near relatives. British remonstrances were unavailing, and in 1883 an ultimatum was disregarded. A punitive expedition overthrew Thebaw, who was deported, and Burma was incorporated with Great Britain's Indian possessions.]

GENERAL ITEMS. The death is reported of Mr Robert A. Yerburgh, M.P., president since 1900 of the Royal Navy League. He was called to the Bar in 1880, and was assistant private secretary to the late Mr W. H. Smith, when the latter was First Lord of the Treasury. Sixteen funerals wore held up at Nunhead on Saturday owing to shortage of labour Services wore conducted and the coffins were placed in the cemetery chapel's crypt, pending the completion of the graves. A fog in London last week was the densest for many years. Omnibuses and taxi-cabs ceased running, and the people carried torches, and flares lighted the Strand. Railway and tramway traffic in several directions was almost at a standstill for hours.

Mr Justice Sherman, in the Probate Court, pronounced in favour of a will made by word of mouth. Lieutenant Wardrop, who was killed in Franco in August, told a brother officer that if he was killed he wished all his property to go to his wife, whom he married in May. Lord Islington has promised that the Government would give more adequate support in future to the Imperial Institute. The Irish Attorney-general—Mr J. H. Campbell, K.C. —has been appointed Chief Justice of Ireland.

The death is announced of Mr Harry Marks, editor and chief proprietor of the Financial News. The Danish Government are seizing all stocks of sugar exceeding SCOO kilograms in connection with the introduction of sugar tickets.

The Finnish passenger steamer Sikifket struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Bothnia. Only one person was saved, 59 being lost. The Spanish Government has suppressed the revolutionary movement which was under Santos, who has been arrested. _ The Government promptly crushed small risings at four places in the provinces without firing a shot. The ringleaders. Machardo and Santos, have been arrested. The French armoured cruiser Ernest Renan collided with and cut in two an Italian steamer. Of those aboard the latter 115 passengers were picked up. but 15 perished. The citizens of Boston by a two to one vote have refused prohibition. General Villa has attacked Torrean. The fight continued all day. The greatest, gathering of Dutch since before the Boer war celebrated Dingaan's Day at Paardekraal. General Botha was the dominating figure, and thousands listened attentively to his dignified address. The House of Lords passed the Bill rendering it unnecessary for members of the now Ministry to submit themselves for re-election. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. A regulation permits of variations in the price of coal in existing contracts. The Maitland district miners have decided to forgo the usual Christmas holidays excepting Christmas Day. An influential deputation of meat exporters urged Mr Hughes to adopt Federal control of the export trade, owing to Queensland's border restrictions. Mr Hughes promised to investigate the matter. The Coal Tribunal increased the price of coal by 3s per ton as from January 1. and granted the miners a 15 per cent, increase and day labour a. 20 per cent, increase in wages. The dewth of Mr C. E. Pilcher, senior K.C. in New South Wales, member of the Legislative Council, is announced. The first Australasian Conference regarding school medical services was opened last week. Delegates from the various States and from New Zealand were present. The conference proposes to fix' a, standard of dofeet-: as a common basis for combating them. It was recommended that a medical convention lie held every two years.

The death is reported of Sir Arthur Morgan, Lieutenant-governor of Quei '-■ land. Born at Warwick, Queensland, in 1856, ho became proprietor of the Warwick Argus on

the death of his father. Engaging in politics he became Speaker and, later, Premier. He was then called to the Council and became President and Lieutenant-governor. He was created a Knight Bachelor in 1907. The death is reported of W. J. Chiclloy. the "back to Nature" man. who more than once came into conflict with tiie authorities owing to his peculiar tenets and practices. Fie was ultimately sent to an asylum for the insane, lint was released on friends undertaking to prevent him from offending against the law.

Christmas in Sydney was quiet and dull. The weather was sultry. The South Australian Government Statistician estimates that the present wheat harvest will vield 33.363,702 bushels.

Floods seriously damaged the crops and property in Tasmania. Damages to the railway property alone are estimated at £IO,OOO. Both Houses of Parliament in Tasmania have passed the Amusements Bill, and also measures increasing the Tattersalls' prize money tax and the stamp duty on tickets; also authorising the Government to purchase the Latrobe Shale Oil Works for £65.000.

The New South Wales Institute of Journalists sought the postponement of the World's Press Congress, fixed to be held at Sydney in 1913, on the ground of the probability of the war not being ended, and, therefore, the conference would not be fully representative. Mr ITolman, the Premier, says he cannot see that any conditions have yet arisen to justify the Government in repudiating the invitations to meet in Sydney. He was assured that the Allied countries would be well represented. HIGH FREIGHTS. In the House of Representatives Mr Hughes stated that in consequenco of the scarcity of freight it was costing as much to despatch a bushel of wheat to England as the Australian farmer received under the pool scheme.