AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8113, 6 April 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

EASTERN TELEGRAPH COMPANY. .Received April 5, 10.20. a.m. MELBOURNE, April 5. Owing to the Eastern Company refusing to ratify the agreement with the Federal Government as modified by the Senate, the Government has discontinued the privileges enjoyed by tbe Company under the provisional agreement, and disconnected Company's land line. Cablegrams have now to be taken to tbe central office, tbe same as or dinary messages. The company and the mercantile community strongly complain of the inconvenience oaused by the peremptory action of the Government. Mr Deakin, Federal Premier, in reply, says the Company, kept the Government waiting an unduly long time over the agreement. The rights were granted iu tbe full belief that tbe agreement would be ratified. The Company enjoyed them for three years, the Commonwealth receiving nothing in return. The Secretary of tbe Postal Bureau says the Department merely carried out the provisions of the agreement. THE CHOLERA. OUTBREAK ON A SHIP. Received April 5, 9.20 a.m. SYDNEY, April 5. News has readied Sydney that tbe British India steamer Fultala, bound from Caloutta to Suva with a shipload of coolies put into Singapore owing to an outbreak of cholera on board. Four coolies died, and eight were placed iu hospital at Singapore. The Fultala will resume her voyage when the disease .has been stamped out. THE LABOUR PARTY. PRACTICAL SOCIALISM. Received April 5, 10.11 a.m. SYDNEY, April 5. It bis speeoh at North Sydney last night, Mr Watson declared that the Souialism adopted by the La bour Party was not the programme of any cult of Socialistic thought. They claimed the right to adopt just so much Socialism as they thought practicable, and they asked the electors to vote the amount of Socialism they thought necessary. The party's objeotive was collective ownership of monopolies, aud an extension of the industrial and eoonomio funotions of States and municipalities. Mr Deakin, the speaker declared, took an exaggerated view of the evils likely to follow the three party system of government. Received April 6, 10.20 a.m. i SYDNEY, April 5. Cont'nuing his speeoh, Mr Watson said Mr Deakin's programme was at present in a state of transition, if it existed at all. The Labuur Party wanted a clear statement of his views on the question of nationalising monopolies, and on a progressive land tax for bursting up big estates. Mr Reid had pronounced against tbe latter. If the eleotors gave them the necessary majority the Labour Party we»*e prepared to take the responsibility in the matter. GOOD SHOOTING. Received April 5, 9.54 p.m. SYDNEY, Aprils. The Number 2 Company of Australian Artillery, while practising at 3,Booyds and 4,Booyds ranges, made nine direct hits out of ten shots in four minutes under the time allowance. This is believed to be a record. A COMMONWEALTH FLEET ADVOCATED. Received April 5, 9.45 p,m, PERTH, April 5. Befcre the Shipping Commission, Mr Diamond, a member of the Assembly, advocated a Commonwealth fleet, and also the making of rebates illegal in order to break down the shipping ring. CONFERENCE OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. DECIMAL COINAGE AND METRIC SYSTEM. PROTEST AGAINST NATIONALISATION OF TOBACCO INDUSTRY. Received April 5, 9 45 p.m. PERTH, April 5. The Conference of Chambers of Commerce adopted a resolution favouring the adoption of decimal coinage and the metric system throughout the Empire. The Conference also passed a resolution protesting against the Federal Commission's recommendation for the nationalisation of the tobacco industry.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telejraph—PrewiAssociation.—Cotmieht.