A QUANDARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 215, 9 September 1903, Page 5

A QUANDARY.

(R<?eeiye(l,9.2o a.m.)

MELBOURNE,, this, day,

An all-day debate was maintained on clause 3 on the amendment to leave out the word "not , * so ass to make the measure apply to the-public service • of-the. Commonwealth, or State. The amendment was negatived by 28 t0,21. ' . Mr McDonald then moved the addition of words which- gave i the clause a scope to include'railway men. : A long debate.followed. The recent railway strike was traversed 'in arguments, despite the Government's resistance, and the amendment was carried by 26 votes to 21. Sir ••Edmund'Barton then had progress reported arid the House adjournal. No 'fewer ■ than six Government supporters voted for the amendment. The Government are in- «i dilemma, They cannot ask' for a dissolution, because there is not the necessary machinery for electing a new House, and they must either ' Heciire a rescission of the amendment or drop the bill.

(Received , a.m.)

; -. MELBOtJUNE, this day. * Sir Ednvund Barton states that the. Qabin.et' .will meet this morning. The Labour party voted.. solidly for the arnendriient, Mr Kingston joining them. As. some compensation for the loss of their own followers Government recejyed seven Opposition vote's, including that Siy William McMillan, actingleader of. the Opposition,' who declared the amendment to be an unjustifiable attack on State rights.

(Received 12.15 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

The Premier; and the leading politicians state that the matter of including the railway men in the Federal Act is not one for the Federal. Government. The State laws weve adequate, and they regard the amendment as an infringe-, meat of the Constitution. thd local vote. , >