FEDERAL LABOR CONFERENCE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIII, Issue 309, 12 January 1912, Page 5

FEDERAL LABOR CONFERENCE.

Press Assn—By teiegrapn—Copyrigh* HOBART, January 11.'

The Labor Conference finally, without adopting a direct motion carried an expression of opinion that State Upper Houses should be abolished. The constitutionality of the proposal was generally questioned. Messrs Fisher and Watson contended that the State electors should seek to carry out the proposal themselves, but if the fight was availing then it might be desirable to seek Federal assistance. A motion to make the federalisation of the railways a plank of the fighting platform was defeated. Motions were adopted that all sea going vaessels should carry wireless apparatus; that in the event of necessary power being obtained by a referendum the Commonwealth should own and control a fleet of mail inter-State steamers.

A motion to extend compulsory training from the age of seventeen to twentyfive was lost. The Conference affirmed the. principle of international and universal decrease of armaments. (Received January 12, 9 a.m.) HOBAItT, This Day. A motion that in the event of cortrstitutioiml power being obtained, maional sugar refinery, should be established, was carried. It was also agreed that ■puMiolyowwed ironworks were an urgent; necessity. It was decided to send a. letter of fraternal greetings to the .Social Democratic Party in Germany, wishing them success at the elections. A motion by Messrs Fisher and M'Gowen, that negotiations for closer industrial and commercial relations with New Zealknd should be opened up immediately, was carried. Mr Fisher declared l it was well known tiliat the trouble in the Pacific wouliid have to be met by all Australia. They sihouHd sound New Zealand's opinion.

Mr M'Gowen said that a widened federation, by the inclusion of New Zealand, was necessary for the welfare of the States. A motion that State members should be eligible to contest Federal seats without resigning, was carried.