AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 882, 7 December 1916, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

WAR PROFITS TAX. CONSCRIPTION OF WEALTH. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright MELBOURNE, December G. The Federal Treasurer (Mr A. Poynton) announced the reduction of the war-time profits tax. The Government, he said, had decided to limit the tax to 50 per cent, on war profits over the admitted percentages during the first year of the war, and to 75 per cent, on the second year of war. Mining companies and fruitgrowing concerns would be qxempt.

The Treasurer outlined a new scheme of wealth conscription for repatriation purposes, by which there would be an annual payment of 6/- per cent, of wealth per year for five years. The income tax would be increased by 25 per cent, and an entertainments tax levied on tickets over sixpence.

The Treasurer said that he estimated that the war profits tax for the first year would produce £600,000, the repatriation tax £1,835,000 per annum, and the entertainments tax £700,000. The exemptions on incomes over £SOO would disappear; £26 would be allowed for each child under the age of 16. The exemption from income tax would be reduced to £IOO for unmarried persons without dependents.

INCITEMENT TO CRIME.

THROTTLING THE I.W.W.

SYDNEY, December 6.

As a result of the Judge's comments in sentencing the I.W.W. prisoners, the Government intends to tighten and make more summary the law relating to incitement to crime.

LABOUR CONFERENCE. IN FAVOUR OF PEACE. MELBOURNE, December G. After the conference of the executives of the State Labour parties had adopted the resolution expelling the conscriptionist Federal members, objections were raised about the Stale conscriptionist members. This led the remaining West Australian representatives to withdraw, leaving- West Australia unrepresented. The executive of the West Australian Labour Federation cabled the secretary of the conference that its action in refusing to sit with the West Australians was regarded as an outrage.

The conference resolved lo urge Great Britain and the Allies to formulate peace terras, and decided to send a copy of the resolution to the leader of the Lahour Party in Great Britain.

RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS. NO AWARDS MADE. (Received December 7, .11.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 7. Owing to the small number of applicants for the Rhodes scholarships the Selection Committee is not making any awards this year. PRICE OF NEWSPi INCREASE PROPOSED. (Received December 7, 11.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 7. The Country Press Association is considering the question of increasing the price of country dailies from Id to lid per copy. MINERS' WAGES. CONFERENCE TO-MORROW. (Received December 7, 11.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 7. The coal proprietors have decided to confer with the men on Friday on the question of increased wages.