AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 21

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

A QUEENSLAND DIEFICULTY. BRISBANE, July 29. Trouble has arisen in the ranks of the Queensland Labour Party over the question of the 44-hour week and the State employees. At a caucus meeting Mr Theodore (the Premier) opposed the abolition of the o per cent, reduction in wages and a return to the 44-hour week on account of the enormous cost. Considerable disturbance occurred, during which Mr Theodore and his Cabinet resigned. Owing to" difficulty in forming a new Ministry, it was decided that the old Cabinet should withdraw to see what could be done in regard to the matters in dispute. On his return Mr Theodore again presided till the meeting ended. Matters apparently simmered down, but it is stated that the possibility of a crisis is not over. July 60. Parliament opened yesterday. The Governor’s Speech forecasted, inter alia, the introduction of a Bill to provide for a maximum 44-hoiur week. July 31. In the Assembly the Leader of the Opposition moved a motion of no-confidence in the Government on account of its financial policy. The motion is expected to be easily defeated. THE FEDERAL SITUATION. MELBOURNE, July 29. Mr Bruce states that it has been agreed that consideration of the Eederal election pact shall remain in abeyance until the Budget is introduced in the Federal Parliament. He s<jys the Financial Statement must take precedence over any matter of party politics. TASMANIAN FINANCE. HOBART, July 30. The State Parliament was opened yesterday by the Administrator (Sir Herbert Nicholls), who, in his opening Speech, said that the financial position at the end of June was more satisfactory than had been anticipated. The prospects for revenue during the coming year were good. CENSURE MOTION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, Julv 30. In the Assembly Mr E. A. M'Tierman gave notice of his intention to move that the action of the Government in prosecuting union ofiicials in connection with the Port Lyttelton hold-up is deserving of censure. The matter will come before the House on Thursday. THE FEDERAL BUDGET. MELBOURNE, July 01. In the House of Representatives Or Earle Page (Treasurer) presented the Budget. He said that the revenue for the year amounted to £65,077,810, or £4.078,810 In excess of the Estimate. The revenue from Customs and Excise amounted to £35,750,784, which was a record. The estimated revenue from this source was £29,650.000. The total expenditure out of revenue was £62.484,169, representing an excess of £1,532,321 over the Estimate. The total revenue for the year was £66,017,203 and the expenditure was £64,430,019, showing a surplus for the year of £2.587,184. This added to the accumulated surplus of previous years made a total of £10.015,758. but from this £4,915,765 had been deducted to pay off a portion of the national debt Therefore the accumulated surplus was £5.100,103. The income tax exemption has been increased from £2OO to £3OO, and with other new ' exemptions all incomes up to £I2OO yearlv will benefit. Two hundred and sixty thousand taxpayers will be relieved of the payment of income tax. Altogether the Treasurer estimates that as a result of this the revenue will be decreased by £2,000,000. The estimated revenue for 1924-25 is £64,395.000. and the estimated expenditure £64,368,968. MELBOURNE, August 1. Tn the course of his financial statement the Treasurer (Dr Earle Page) eaid that

the tax payable by persons with incomes above £I2OO would be reduced by 10 per cent. Profits derived from gold mining would be exempted from tax. The revenue derived from the income tax during the past year had amounted to £11,057,555. The payment of old-age and invalid pensions had amounted to £6,0'20,b0l to 155,671 people. The maternity allowances showed a falling off of £3652, which indicated a reduction in the birth rate. The interest charges totalled £19,963,818. The reduction of the postage rates, which took effect on October 1, had resulted in a loss of £BOO,OOO. The Treasurer said the Federal eminent intended to relinquish permanently the taxation of lotteries in Tasmania, which yielded £lll,OOO annually, but the Tasmanian Government would reimpose this taxation. The defence policy was to be established on a solid basis. The modest programme of development upon which the Ministry had .decided would require the additional £1,000,000 this year towards the construction of two modem 10,000-ton cruisers. Further encouragement would be offered to the States to induce a large flow of immigrants up to a total of 50,000 annually. A sum of £SOOO would he placed on the Estimates to begin research into the cause of cancer. No more tax-free Federal loans were to be issued. The gross debt of Australia per head of the population was £l5B. MR THEODORE’S RESIGNATION DEMANDED. BRISBANE, August 1. A mass meeting of railway employees called upon Mr Theodore to resign for not restoring the salaries of public servants, upon which a 5 per cent, reduction has been enforced. It was also decided to hold stop-work meetings throughout the State to decide what action to take. DAY SITTINGS OF PARLIAMENT. BRISBANE, August 1. After a lengthy debate, the Assembly affirmed the principle of parliamentary day sittings. THE FORTY-FOUR HOUR WEEK. PERTH, August 1. In the Assembly the Leader of the Opposition (Sir James Mitchell) moved a reduction in Supply of £SOOO as a protest against the Government introducing the 44-hour week. Mr Johnston, Deputyleader of the Country Party, intimated that his party would not support the amendment, though it was not in favour of the 44-hour week. PORT LYTTELTON DISPUTE. SYDNEY, July 51. In the Assembly Mr A. E. MTierman moved that his motion of censure be dealt with as a matter of urgency. This was defeated by 39 votes to 29. The motion will now be placed on the business paper and dealt with in the ordinary way. Mr M‘Tierman gave notice of his intention to move that the action of the Government in prosecuting- union officials in connection with the Port Lyttelton hold-up is deserving of censure. CO-ORDINATION OF BORROWING. MELBOURNE, July 28. The Queensland, South Australian, and Tasmanian Governments have notified the Federal Treasurer (Dr Earle Page) that they have endorsed the project agreed to by the Loan Council for the co-ordination of Commonwealth and State borrowing.