UNION PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 216, 5 June 1908, Page 3

UNION PARLIAMENT.

POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT. The Union (of Debating Clubs) Parliament will meet for tho dispatch of business at tho Y.M.C.A. rooms on Tuesday, nest, and thereafter every other Tuesday during tho winter. The Government has adopted a policy which it believes is in tho best interests of tho Dominion. It favours absoluto free trade, and will roly for its revenue on increased duties on spirits, beor, and tobacco, and on increased graduated land tax, incomo tax, and death duties. It will borrow in the outside market sufficient money to enable tho public works in hand to bo completed without delay, as so much capital is otherwise lying unproductive. It will enact that all males over twenty-iivo years who havo novor married shall bo charged an additional 10 por cont. 011 assessments of land and incomo tax and local bodies' rates, and that married persons with families shall bo allowed a discount of not moro than <10 per cent, according to tho number of children in tho family. Tho Government will foster the cadet movement, disband tho Volunteers, compel attendance on all adults at annual instruction camps, equip harbour defences, encourage riflo shooting arid discontinue tho naval subsidy in' favour of the Australasian Navy. Also the Government will bring in extensive prison reforms, embodying the classification of criminals, tho application of a system of indeterminate sentences, and reformative measures instead of the present retaliatory punishments. And. tho Government will repeal tho Arbitration Act and bring in a measure to effect tho nationalisation of tho ferry, coastal, arid intercolonial steamer sorvice.