AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 31

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

AT PEACE WITH NEIGHBOURS. MELBOURNE. Julr 14. In the House of Representatives, tfir Neville Howse (Minister of Defence) stated that £50,000,000 a year would be necessary for the next 10 years to provide Australia with sufficient defence to protect herself in the Pacific. Such an expenditure was out of the question, and fortunately Australia was living on the most amicable terms with her neighbours. THE COMPENSATION ACT. SYDNEY. July I*. A deputation of country sawmill owners asked Mr J. M. Baddeley (Minister of Labour) for a 50 per cent, reduction in the premiums to be paid under the Workers’ Compensation Act for mill and bush workers, stating that otherwise the State’s timber industry would die. Already 37 sawmills had been compelled to close. Mr Baddeley promised consideration. THE UPPER CHAMBER. ADELAIDE July 15. The last session of Parliament lias opened. The Governor’s speech stated that a Bill for the abolition of the Legislative Council would be introduced. VICTORIAN AFFAIRS. MELBOURNE, July 15. In. the Assembly the no-cqypfidenc® motion was defeated by 33 votes to 29, AUSTRALIAN FINANCE. MELBOURNE, July 15 In the Legislative Assembly the Prime Minister (Mr Allan) introduced the following motion:—“That this House is of opinion that no financial scheme can be assented to by the States which does not provide for their receiving from the Commonwealth a fixed annual payment of not less than 25s per head of the population and that there should be no departure from the present financial relations between the States and the Common wealth without the fullest consideration at a consitutional session and the approval of the people at a referendum.”