STATE POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 548, 1 July 1909, Page 5

STATE POLITICS.

SESSIONS OPENED. VICTORIA AND THE LAND QUESTION. STATE COAL MINE (By, Telegraph.—Pross Association,—Copyright.) • ' (Rcc. Juno 30/ 9:5 p.m.) ,:i Molbeurna, Juno 30. I The Governor (Sir. Reginald Talbott to-day I opened .tho State Parliament' :. •••« i Tho Governor's Speech Ireferrfed to the i satisfactory.condition of thojfinancos, and expressed confidencc that '."Victorians would ehoorfully bear ; their proportion of 1 the cost i of the. Droadnought promised in conjunction •"with v.Now'., South'vjVale's/;/.'lli; recognised-tho urgency of effecting a fundamental change in tho incidence of, land tak-ation, and promised a Bill providing. foij a -tax on the unimproved valuo. Irrigation aud intense culture of irrigablo areas would receive prominent attention. " ■ j! • ' • Tho construction of a modern dock in'' Melv bourno to supply tho requirements of the i ■Admiralty and of the mercantile shipping services was included in tho programme;, also, Vigorous railway construction, tho establish-1 mcnt of a State coal -mine, and proposals for the prevention .. and eradication of tuber-1 culosis. ; 1 '':V' I , QUEENSLAND. AN 'UNEXCITING PROGRAMME. (Rec. June 30, 9.5.p.m.) . Brisbane, June 30. . The State Parliament .was officially opened to-day. 1 Tho ..Governor's ;Speech • referred to the .'efforts'made to induce the Siato to participate in naval defence, but' thi request was i declined on the ground that it was tho duty of the Commonwealth to control imilitary and naval affairs. ■■■" ■ • -I ■ .. The promised legislation includes several now. railways, a Bill for tho creation of 1 a i univorsity, x and a Licensing Bill. ! ; , • ■ ' i-'■ WADE GOVERNMENT—THE CENSURE DEBATE. _ DARLEY- INCIDENT.^ Sydney, June 30. , Inj tho Assembly , the dobato was continued ion the Labour party's censure'motion, which demands .a. graduated.land tax, 'declares an immigration- policy to: Do criminal m tho ab-' sence of such or tax, and condomns the action of ; the Government iiv: connection -With.. tho :retirement -of -Sir Frederick' Darley from the liosition of Chief Justice.; l , , i Mr. "Wade,' the Premier,' Said he had been urged to accept the/Chief Justiceship} but he had declined. ' , " t . The debate..was adjourned; . I .(Rec July 1, 1.5 a m.) j .Syrtnay, Junoi 80. j:*-: Tap, censure debato. is • dragging along. . UNSEEMLY WRANGLE' CONCERNING A

, . HIGH OFFICE. t'. Prior to! his .retirement ■ from tho position of Chief Justice, .Sir Frederick 1 Darley. ■ who 1 - has been., on _the ■ Supreme Court' Bench of New South -,Wales r for :., twenty-three ;' years, 1 '.was ,panted by,tho. Government, twelve months'' •leave of absence on ..v This aotioU was criticised as giving the Cliiof Justife a bonus in addition :to his ■ retiring' a)-.-!owanco,'.nnd,Mivßtß.' (formerly: Acting-• Premiary ,'Attomey-ueneral,i rand .' Minister vforJ Justice) i helped to give the : incident ', a i per-! soHar-'tUtorbyUuggcstlflgi'in^^^ 'the leave of absence' faight'have :been'arranged by th - Government, lu tho pbcuiiar circumstances .noted, in . order, that i tho office of the iCluef Justice should bo kept vacant till tho Premier-Atlorney-General, llr. 'Wade,': was pre-: Spared to nommntc'.lumeolf lo .tho vacancy. ■ The. publication of this interview Was followed • by' withdrawal of the. Crown, briefs whloh, ■ by. an' act of. generosity, Mr: -Wado says,'. had v-bcen' given to Sir. Wise. v Mr. AVise in a letter to- the •piess.drew pronounced attention to.this:aotion, i whiehho atmbntod to "thevery. paltry, ./personal;' mi'- of/yotirJ administration, and particularly, of. your' action>! in regard to the Chief Justiceship." Mr. AVade"i in turn defended his'action, and acoused Mr;' :\Vise. of .trying ;to -the • minds ,of my friends, .and .to damage tho Government, whilst I was tryintf to help him." ■ Now . Mr.\\Vade > tolls the Assembly that 'he wnS] Airbed to accept the Chief Justiceship, but