COMMONWEALTH NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17962, 13 December 1918, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH NEWS

WAR PRECAUTIONS ACT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, December 12. Received December 12, 9.40 p.m. Mr Watt, Acting Premier, denies that Senator Pearce is going to London in connection with demobilisation. Responding to protests against the extension of the War Precautions Act for six months after the declaration of peace the Government has modified the bill, making the extension to July 31st, 1919, or three months after peace, whichever period is the longer. THE INDEMNITY QUESTION. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO DIVIDE. HOBART, December 12. Received December 12, 9.40 p.m. Replying on the Tasmanian Premier’s suggestion that the Commonwealth Government should consider reimbursing the State Governments the amounts directly incurred in repatriation from any war indemnity received, Mr Watt stated that the Commonwealth Government did not intend to apply to the Imperial authorities for consideration of the proposal in view of the heavy expenditure Australia had incurred; neither was it intended to allot any portion of any indemnity that might be received to the States. SYDNEY, December 12. In the Assembly it was announced that the Public Service Board had resigned, and that the Government had withdrawn the bill. The session has ended. Bush fires in the Riverina destroyed thirty thousand head of stock. HOBART, December 12. The Assembly, by 15 to 10, rejected the Premier’s proposals to submit prohibition to the electors at next election. MELBOURNE, December 12. The House of Representatives passed the War Precautions’ Act Extension Bill by 34 to 26. ~