The Commonwealth Government has placed an embargo on the export of iron ore. The reason is the fear that Australia's iron resources, as developed hitherto, will not be more than sufficient to supply Commonwealth needs. Local consump: tion is now about 2,000,000 tons a year, and it is rising rapidly. Action was taken upon the granting of leases by the Western Australian State Government for mining iron deposits at Yampi Sound, on the north-west coast of Australia, The lessee was Commonwealth has received about £2,500 a year, out of which he has had to meet certain Parliamentary expenses. Certain members of the Civil Service receive more, and salaries in business rise much higher. For the future the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) will receive £1,000 instead of £740 in Parliamentary allowance, about £1,500 for his Ministerial position, and a similar amount as a special grant—making about £4,000 in all.
The increase is publicly approved. Democracy, it is observed, requires to attract the best brains to its management. Ministers, other than the Prime Minister, are guaranteed about £2,000 a year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.