THE COMMONWEALTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19816, 6 December 1919, Page 9

THE COMMONWEALTH.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS. tßjr Telegraph—Pm« Association—Copyrighi | Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. , * (Received December 6, 9.6 u.m.) THE LIQUOR BILL. 1 SYDNEY, ( December G. Tho Government’s Liquor Bill satisSes neither party. Their respective j supporters are giving it a stormy pas- i jago through the committee stages in ' the Assembly, so far, however, without ■ securing material amendment either way. Cabinet promised consideration of a resolution of the Methodist Social ; Questions Committee asking for the Withdrawal for the present session of a Bill involving such important issues, with the exception of the clauses providing for continuance and six o’clock closing. A LUTING WAGE. The Government has decided that the Board of Trade award increasing tho living wage by 17s weekly shall apply to the whole of the State public service on salaries up to £526 per annum. FEDERAL POLITICS. Mr Ryan’s financial record in Queensland, and the largo increasing number of unemployed there, resulting allegedly from legislation passed during his regime, are being used as a main weapon by the Nationalist Press and candidates to counter his lavish promises to tho electors, particularly the soldiers, if Labour jb _ returned to power. Mr Ryan’s irruption into Federal politics is deeply resented by tho Nationalists, who freely charge sertion of Queensland politics to his having made tho northern State too hot for himself. (Received December 6, 11.20 n.m.) LIQUOR BILL PASSED. SYDNEY, December 6. The Assembly passed the Liquor Bill with a number or amendments, two of which provide for no limitation of the amount of compensation in tho event of prohibition being carried, and the appointent of a board to determine the amount of to be paid. BENEFICIAL RAINS. Good falls of rain have been experienced in the far west. DOMESTIC WORKERS. A meeting of women formed an orf;anisation demanding better conditions or domestic servants. They claim a fifty-six hour week, a minimum wage of 20a a week, good accommodation and the abolition of the term “ domestic servant ” in favour of “household assistant.” CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL REJECTED. PERTH, December 6. The Legislative Council rejected the Constitution Amendment Bill which passed the Lower House, and provided household suffrage as the franchise for tho Council and tho extension of the life of the present Parliament. LICENSING BILL AMENDED. MELBOURNE, December 6. The. Assembly carrion an amendment to tho Licensing Bill allowing hotelkeepers to sell tea, coffee, cocoa and milk during prohibited hours. DOCTORS AS PUBLIC OFFICERS. In the Assembly a new clause was added to the Health Bill empowering tho employment of doctors as Government or municipal officers, their duties to embrace attendance on persons entitled to it tfnder any friendly society which entered into an agreement with the Minister of Health or the municipality. GAS WORKERS' STRIKEI / ' The gas workers at Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong . have struck, demanding increased wages.