Commonwealth Cables

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 84, 14 August 1923, Page 6

Commonwealth Cables

\ Press Association—Copyright. \ (Received 11.5 a.m.) Sydney, August 14. Quantities of wreckage have been washed ashore on the'North Coast, which are believed to be from the Sumatra. Hobart, August 14. J. C. Newton has been elected leader of the National Party in place of Mr HayeS, resigned. Melbourne, August 14. In the House of Representatives an amending bill abolishing taxation on Crown leaseholds was read a first time afteir the Labor Party had moved an amendment that- the motion be withdrawn and immediate action taken to collect the laud tax due on the Crown leases.

An amending bill authorising the Government to continue the section of the War Precautions Repeal Act giving control over the operations of foreign corporations until the end of next year was also read a. first time. A measure was introduced providing for advances to settlers for the purchase of wire netting, for which purpose a quarter of a million pounds was appropriated from the revenue. The Pan-Pacific Conference opened. Sir David Mawson, in hi 6 presidential address, said the delegates' immediate task was to discuss Scientific problems which were of special interest in the Pacific area, and to lay down plans for futiire research.

Sydney, August 14. The annual conference of the Farmers and Settlers' Association has opened. The annual Report, which was adopted, strongly condemns the Government, for marketing disabilities connected with' overseas trade, and the high freight and charges on Australian exports. Dr. Earl Page, the conference, said the Government was faced with four urgent duties, namely, clearing up the mess> caused by dabbling in, Socialistic ventures, fin» ancial reform, removal of duplications in the Commonwealth and State Governments, and the construction of a progressive policy of national development. He claimed that the Government had already met with a measure of success, and he added that the Government proposed to alter the metnod of imposing company taxation. A bill would be in 7 tiroduced in the House of Representatives providing for the taxation of companies at the source, instead of making individual shareholders pay. This would really mean reduction of the rate of taxation on companies. Mr Bruce's visit to England would result in Australia _ receiving a measure of Imperial prefeireuce. The Australian Workers' Union has applied to the federal Arbitration Court,for a variation of' the partoral award, claiming increases from 35s to £3 par hundred for shearing, and from £3 10s with keep to £6 with keep weekly for adult shed hands. It is expected the claims will be heard at the height of the shearing season. Melbourne, August 14. The speeches at the opening session of the Science ,Congress urged the importance of scientific co-opera-tion in solving the'problems of the Pacific, and adding to the world's scientific knowledge and resources; also as a method of securing a better understanding between the nations, thus making for international peace and goodwill.

Professor David urged the importance of the Congress as representative of a population of 400,000,000 around the shores of the Pacific. Bringing them closer together through the joint study of the same problems would help towards making the Pacific in truth the Pacific. The French, American, Japanese, Netherlands, and British delegates expressed. similar sentiments. Sydney, August 14. The City medical officer reports that the death-rate in the Metropolitan area last year was 8.95 per 1000, which wa 8 the lowest on record in the World for any city with half a million inhabitants or over.