AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 19656, 5 October 1922, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

(By Telegraph.—Press As^n.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, October 4. A scene was caused in the Assembly while the Premier was replying to charges made by Messrs Scott and Fell, members of the Nationalist Party, in connection with the leasing of wheat silos. Sir George Fuller requested Mr Fell to bo explicit and he would appoint a commission of inquiry, while Mr A. Bruntnell, Minister of Education, urged Mr Fell to be a man and come out into the open. Mr Fell excitedly informed Sir George Fuller that he was a “jellyfish Premier,” and that he (Mr Fell) would not be bluffed . The Speaker intervened and restored order. There is much adverse comment regarding statements alleging that tons of fish caught by the trawlers have been allowed to rot at the depots in preference to selling below a certain price. The official reply admits that there is a glut, but contradicts wholesale allegations. The Chief Secretary, replying to a question in the Assembly, however, stated that 1372 cases of the low’er classes of fish were dumped after being offered to and refused by the unemployed, W’ho demanded to be supplied with flathead. Following the reported discovery of a rat suffering from plague at Kelvin Grove, the Mayor of Brisbane made charges against the authorities at Sydney, alleging that they were not properly carrying out the supervisory measures, and also that plagued rats were being caught in Sydney, whence he claimed the Kelvin Grove specimen came in a shipment of produce. The New’ South Wales health authorities generally deny the statement, and declare that no infected rats have been discovered for months. The dead body of a man. partly clothed, was found in Centennial Park. The man’s skull bore marks of violence, and a bloodstained bottle was found close by. The victim has been identified, as Charles MacLennan, aged 45, an inmate of the Woodville Red Cross Home at Randwick. MELBOURNE, October 4. In the Assembly the Treasurer, in delivering the Budget said the revenue was £19,872,466, and the surplus £34,938. The revenue had increased by £1,349,000 since 1921. No increase in taxation was proposed. PERTH, October 4. The Assembly, dealing with the Licensing Bill, decided that the first prohibition poll be taken in 1925 and thereafter every five years. A three-fifths majority must be obtained. It also decided that hotels may be kept open under the Eating House License? Act during hours when the sale of liquor is prohibited.