UNION PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 220, 10 June 1908, Page 9

UNION PARLIAMENT.

OPENIN& Of THE SESSION . y • The fifth session of the Union Parliament; was opened last night at the Y.M.C.A., Rooms.. Among a fairly large number of interested. spectators wore several ladies. The: Speaker (Mr. A. H. Casey) took Ilia seat shortly after 8 o'clock. Members; of tho Ministry were, prcsejit, as follow':—ALv C. Brctherton, Premier; 0. J. Nickliu, Customs; 1 , Glanvilie Hicks, Lands; A. E. Budd, Education. The Opposition were ably led by Mr*; Wolff.'. .■' „■ ' . "His-Excellency tho Governor" (Mr. Hi.' N. Holmes) was loudly applauded iipon rising . 1 to deliver the customary speech. He stated, i inter alia, that his advisers contemplated bringing,down legislation^tending to develop the resources ,of the Dominion, the extension ; of its commerce, etc. Tho timo was, ho continued, considered ripe for tho adoption of a 1 more equitable system of taxation,_ and with this end in. view a Bill would be introduced' whereby the burden would' fall upon tho unimproved Value of the land, and increases would be if.ade in the duties on spirits, beer,' and to a lessor' extent on tobacco, njid thcro would also bo increases in the land tax and stamp duties. It was .proposed also to im'poso an additional 10 per cent, on all assessments bf land, and income bx and local' bodies'."rates in, the case of all'"unmarried males oyer twenty-five years of age. In the icasd of married, persons with families a discount would bo allowed of not more than 40 per ccnt-., according, to the number of children. It was proposed also to, disband tho Volunteers and to'compel attendance on ail able-bodied .male .adults at annual instruction camps. The question of the adoption of tho, Ad-dress-in-Reply provoked a long and, at times, animated debate. Mr; G. Schmidt was. the mover,. and Mr. Compton. the seconder. As an amendment,.' Mr. M'Caull (who had re-i signed the portfolio of Internal Affairs and; become a member of the Opposition) moved:: "That the ' Houso' views with alarm the; policy of tho ' Government. 1 " This amendment was accepted by the Government as a' motion of' want of confidence. Among those, who took part in tho debate was Mr. Hicks,; who will be a candidate for a northern' seat' at tho forthcoming General Election. Ho enunciated the "Government's" defence' policy, treating with the necessity for obli-' gatorv military service and for the ■establishment of an Australasian Nivy. Mr. Hicks, who is a fluent and vigorous- speaker; received! a particularly good_ hearing.) Eventually. the( amendment was rejected by a fair majority,' and the motion adopting the Address-in-; Reply was carried. After notice had' been given of intention to repeal the Arbitration Act,:tho "House" adjourned until June 23.