FEDERAL POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12591, 6 September 1906, Page 7

FEDERAL POLITICS.

QUEENSLAND AND THE COMMONWEALTH.

A PESSIMISTIC SPEECH

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegrsph—Copyright.

BRISBANE, September 5

In the financial debate Mr Philp declared that Federal finance was most unsatisfactory. Queensland, he said, had more reason for dissatisfaction than any other State. She had lost over two million since the inauguration of federation, and wao lesing all the time. As far as ho could see the Federal Government had no intention of dealing fairly with the States. The constitution provided that the Commonwealth should take over and compensate States for certain properties, but not a farthing compensation had been paid. The Commonwealth should shoulder its own rcsponeribilities, and should pay interest on transferred properties.

Queensland revenue, he continued, was expanding, and the amount to be received from the Commonwealth would be greater each year. Therefore, it would be absolute folly for the Governiment to enter into an arrangement under which ehe would receive a fixed sum annually. He believed the other States would join Queensland in demanding the return of a full threefourths of the Customs excise revenue. Queensland had no desire for a penny postage, which would further reduce her revenue. Queensland would have to inaugurate an immigration scheme of her own. At the end of the year she would need five thousand agricultural Inbourers for the ougar industry, and these could not bo had in Australia. Ho did not desire to sco tho scum of Sydney and Melbourne flocking there.