AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 26

AUSTRALIAN CABLES.

COMMONWEALTH POLITICS. MELBOURNE, July 14. In tho House of Representatives a third censure motion from the Opposition was launched by Mr Brennan, who moved that tire wireless amendment should not be entered into until it is approved of bv the House. After a heated debate during whioh there were many interjections hostile to the Government from various quarters of the House, Mr Massy Greene agreed to an adjournment. A grave political crisis threatens to develop out of the debate. N. S. WALES POLITICS. T , ~ SYDNEY, July 13. in the Assembly the censure debate was continued. A division is expected tonight. A G-overmnent victory is considered certain. . SYDNEY, July 14. 1 rouble is brewing in the New South Wales Cabinet over its lands policy It >s understood that the Cabinet is divided over Sir Joseph Carrutehrs’s land settlement scheme, particularly regarding the Murray River lands, about which it is stated an expert officer’s adverse report wag suppressed. It is considered likely that the trouble may terminate in the resignation of Bir J. Carruthers. Colour is lent to this suggestion by the speech by Mr Weaver (Nationalist) on the censure motion, when he stated that the sooner Sir J. Carruthers got out of tho Ministry the better it would be for the party. In tho Legislative Assembly, after an allnight session, the censure motion on the Government was negatived by 47 votes to 31. Sir George Fuller has made available for publication the officier’s report on the Murray lands. The report is unfavourable to wheat growing, stating that in most parts tile land is suitable for dairy purposes only or for grazing. Though the tension has eased, the result- of the publication cf the report is that the opposition to Sir Joseph Carruthers’s land settlement scheme has hardened. ROBBED OF HER REWARD. MELBOURNE, July 10. Ivy Matthews, who was one of the chief witnesses in the Gun Alley tragedy, in vested half of the £430 which she received as a reward in fitting out her wardrobe prior to leaving Melbourne. Whilst she was visiting friends, a cabman called at Miss Matthew’s house and said that she had sent him for her luggage. He obtained the lot. also a bundle of notes. He has not been traced. PRICE OF SUGAR. MELBOURNE, July 12. It is stated, that when Mr Rodgers (Minister of Customs) to-morrow presents his report on the sugar position, he will announce an immediate reduction on the wholesale price, which, will enable the retailers to sell it at 5d per lb, instead of 6d per lb. In order, however, to protect the wholesale dealers holding stocks from loss, either iwo or four weeks’ notice will be given of the reduction coming into force. UNIFICATION OF RAILWAY GAUGES. SYDNEY, July 13. In support of the Federal Government, the State Government is considering am important modification of the railway gauge unification scheme, bv which it is claimed that the mileage will be reduced by some hundreds of miles, and be independent of Victorian and South Australian co-opera-tion, which does not favour the existing proposals; also that it would assist in developing the national land undertakings, and the completion of important railways which are hung up; also that it would be more advantageous from strategic standpoints, and would greatly reduce the initial cost of the work in altering the gauges. The scheme is to link up the transcontinental railway from Port Augusta- with the New South' Wales system. One of three suggested routes is largely across the country instead, as previously proposed, of converting the coastal lines. QUEENSLAND CIVIL SERVICE. BRISBANE. July 13. Mr Theodore has announced that, the Government is reducing by 5 per cent, the salaries of all officer's in the Public Service in receipt of more than £2OO vearlv. The reduction also applies to the Ministers and members of Parliament, for which special legislation will be enacted. The salaries of the judges are not affected. Highly-placed officer* includin'? the Commissioners of tho Railways and the police, also the AuditorGeneral, who do not. come within the operation of the scheme, have voluntarily agreed to the reduction. AUSTRALIA’S WASTE TERRITORY. SYDNEY, July 12. Mr Barwell. South Australian Premier, interviewed, denied the statements attributed to him bv the American press in favour of the introduction of black labour into Australia. He declared that apparently if the American journalists could not get news they constructed it. His attitude toward tropical labour was really that sum pi,hint? should he done to develop Australia’s waste territory. If this were possible b„ white labour, no one would bo better pleased than he. but the question must- be tackled and a sane solution reached. SUIT TO RECOVER CHEQUE PAYMENT. MELBOURNE, July 13. The choaue-betting test case has commenced in the Supreme Court. The executor's itt the estate of ihe late Richard Garland applied for leave t-o enter a first judgment against Herbert Knglebert, bookmaker, for the. recovery of £435, alleged to have been paid bv Garland bv_ a cheque in settlement of betting transactions. MISHAP TO- AREA! AM A. SYDNEY, July 14. The schooner Abemama. bound from the Glarenoe River to, tire Bluff, arrived at Sydney. The crew assert that the vessel was leaking badly, atrd claim that the decision to make for Sydney followed on a deputation by them to the master. The manager of Patrick and Co. (the owners of t'-e Abemam-n) states that the vessel put into Sydney because her sails were lost

in a “blow.” Ho said that the vessel was leaking a little, but she was not seriously damaged. N.S. WALES LABOUR PARTY. SYDNEY, July 14. Tho Labour Party’s executive appointed a committee to inquire into Mr Catts’s charges against Labour control in New South Wales, formulated in the Federal House. Tho report furnished by the executive characterises the attack as “cunningly concocted misrepresentations, made under cover of privilege and designed to injure those prominently associated with the expulsion of Mr Oatts from the Labour Party.” It recommends a vote of confidence in the persons attacked. NEW GUINEA EXPEDITION. MELBOURNE, July 12. Federal parliamentarians are concerned about the cost of Dr Brown’s expedition to New Guinea. The cost to the Commonwealth already exceeds £10,900, and it is stated that it may reach £20.000. Dr Brown’s interim report denies the suggestion that the expedition was lost. He states that at all times he was in wireless communication with the Administration. GENERAL ITEMS. The thermometer at Kiandra, New South Wales, registered 4deg of frost for Wednesday, which is the lowest reading this winter. A plague rat was found at Woolloomooloo, and a plague mouse on Darling Harbour premises, Sydney. Dr E. W. Ferguson, a native of New Zealand has been elected president of the Rcyal Zoological Society of New South Wales. In the Queensland Assembly Mr J. M’D-onald (Labour) was elected, by 37 votes to 34, to the Senate vacancy caused by the death of Mr Adamson. The New South Wales Sub-committee on Education reported recommending the raising of a local loan of £500,000 for educational purposes. ’lho Sydney Merchant Service Guild, on behalf of the pilot service, has issued a log claiming new rates of pay for pilots ranging from £4OO to £IOOO yearly. The principal award of the Royal Humane Society h-as been bestowed on Mr James Watson', engineer at Alount Mulligan. The New South Wales Treasurer stated that the interest payable on the New South Wales loans during the coming year amounts to £3,310,000, which would eat up 20 per cent, of the State’s revenue. Mr W. E. Shoebridge (Labour) was elected in succession to Mr W. Pearce (Labour', who was recently elected for Franklin (Tasmania), but who died before the writ was returned. The steamer Makambo-, from Lord Howe Island, reports that a sliip’s rib, 15ft in length, was recently washed ashore there. It is suggested that it possibly belonged to the Manure-wa. The Queensland Premier (Mr Theodore) announced that Air Gumming, the Government Printer, had written expressing regret at the circumstances which led to the termination of his appointment, and tho Government, after considering his explanation, had decided to reinstate him. During the last few months eight vessels arrived m Australia from Eastern ports with smallpox on board. Two vessels landed suspected cases cf plague, and one landed a definite case. Hone has been abandoned of the Norwegian barque Jamia, which left Sydney in December last for Falmouth, England, laden with wheat. She carried a crew of Scandinavians. An analysis of the Expeditionary Force statistics discloses that the rate of mortality among the men while absent from Australia was approximately 1% per cent, per annum. Under ’ normal Australian conditions the rate of mortality of a body of men of similar ages would be approximately i per cent, per annum. Mr Massy Greene, in indicating the policy of the Government respecting primary industries said that during the past 10 years the yield, including fruit and dairy produce, had increased by £99,817,000, or 220 per cent. Tho Minister ignored a thrust irom the country members asking about the increased cost of production. The advocacy of community singing is finding much expression in the Australian pi ess. It has already got a strong hold in the leading centres in South Australia and West Australia, and is proving a most popular success. The movement in New Zealand and its inspiring effect upon pulbie life is widely quoted. Tailors in Sydney complain that, trade has assumed an unwonted phase. While the ready-made-to-order shops cannot secure sufficient hands to keep pace with the orders, the measured suit trade is slacker than for many years. The employers are mystified as to whether the cause is attributable to dull times or is a reflex of the oninion that prices will ne easier when German goods re-enter the market in August. Dr Campston, Federal Director of Health, announced that the direct importation of cotton seed was not allowed-, the object being to prevent the introduction of the weevil, which bad caused extensive destruction to the cotton plants in America. All seed was quarantined before it was delivered. and was sown only by the Slate authorities or approved growers.