A deputation of motoring inter-[2sts has called.upon Mr. Bruce, the Prime Minister, which claims {to represent 300,000 Australian mo-forists. They are in belligerent mood, and they ask, in commanding. tone, for withdrawal of proposed daties or failing that, a modified form of duty. The deputation was introduced to the Prime Minister by the member for Henry in the House of Representatives, Mr. H. S. Gallett. The duties complained" of fare the 24, a gallon on petrol; Gd. th, on rubber tyres; and 25 per cent. Jon chassis. The deputation consist-paring for Cobhan's arrival, and d of importing interests, and mem-details are being handled by the} bers representing the whole motor. Civil Aviation authorities and the ling trade, besides presidents, and British Imperial Oil Company in! officials of several motoring bodies. ce-operation, Lieut-Col. Brinsmead 'The oil companies alone represented will see final arrangements are total capital of over 5,000,000 made. It is expected that after which is invested in land, stock and seeing to this matter, Lieut-Col buildings throughout the' Common-Brinsmend will make a' reconnaisswealth. Mr. Bruce listened calmly ance of the general "lie," of an and patiently to the various argu-extensive ares of the Territory and) ments put forward, but did not in Queensland, who go far in districts anyway whatsoever' budge from the employing the Quantas air service position he has taken up.
In reply to its full capacity, This trip is jhe stated that £14,000,000 was being: not anticipated to exceed 14 da} expended upon roads duration, inclusive of going and amount the government was ut coming home: By trai and boat, ting an extra, $3,000,000, Motorists and ear, horse, of, as Mr. Nelson at present paid £3,500,000 through the Torritories's Federal member in, the Customs.
They would pay £1,- the Hou of Representatives dols it, yy" camel, would take! their payments to the States now 500,000 under the now scheme and ould months, Tt may be recollected that during "his election campaign Nelson got lost with his motor-cycle and suffered greatly from lack of food, water and exposure.
'A Tunnel Tragedy be between £1,500,000 and £1,600,- 000. Their total payments would be £8,500,000 as in proportion to £17,-
As the American equivalent had been cited by the deputation,—the Prime Minister saw fit to embrace On July 9, a goods train was travelling between two stations known a8 Ardgion and Kankool, in New South Wales. "To reach. the America figures likewise, and ex-_ plained that the American motorist} paid 30 per cent. direct to the cost of roads while the Australian latter town after leaving Ardglen: the train had to traverse the Liverpool Range of hills. To expedite tthe passage of trains through the hilly'areaa tund had been cone structed at one specific point, which of some length, and not at all sufleontly ventilated, aa it tun out. While passing through this ttnnol the fomes were felt to be very heavy by the guard of he train, "Later the train seemed to sway' very considerably, and to be out-of hand, He desperately tried to control it by the brake in his van, bit the train rushed on till it passed through a side station, where the assistant officer was wait ing with his staff held out. ready; for the engine-driver to" take a usual. Neither driver not firemen offered to take the staff, and. caught a glimpse of one lying hnudaled inn comer of the engine cab, and the other man with a coat over his head Tying on. the floor. "He reported to the Railways Coninissioners at once, but_ could do nothing further. The ta fon down a step grade with its heavy laden trucks, on to. Kankool, fast past which station it ran_of the me derailing 26 tracks, moat of them muck worse for the experience. The uncongeicus forms of driver and firemen were thrown out from the caging as it turned turtle. The driver was dead when found by Peachey, the gustd, and the fireman who was unconelous is still in a serious condition suffering from very considerable burns as well motorist will pay just slightly more than 80 per cent. If the £3,500,000 collected by the Customs was de-Jducted from the figures above Jquoted it would be seen that the! Australian motorist does not pay anything like the equivalent to his American cousin. But, what the 'Australian fails' to realize is the fact that, the American pays more! than he does for the pleasure of! motoring, barricades his country! against undue trade of other motorig firms in other parts of the world, and manufactures his own jears, lock, stock, and barrel, such' quantities that he can ' sock; {the entire world for the distribution lof his goods. Australia is not in such a happy position but hopes that by following the example so splendidly carried out by that country to make it possible within a relatively few years to manufacture Jears, and compete successfully with tke best car manufacturers in the world. The result of the now tax thas already become apparent for one great motoring interest has signed tup a contract to the value of £750,000 for the construction of its! motor bodies in Australia by Australian workmen, thus saving three fouartors of a million for distribu ion amongst the working men of] this country instead of going swell the already huge profits of manufacturing firsts in other parts lof the world. And, as it is proving J20 with cars, so may it be with oil, and the Australian spirit, which jhas been able to compete success-ally with the best spirits of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.