ANTI-TRUST CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 952, 20 October 1910, Page 6

ANTI-TRUST CAMPAIGN

THE STATE TO FIX PRICES. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. /' Melbourne, October 19. -. In ithe' Federal House of Representa- ' tiyes,'Mr.' Acting-Prime ; jMiiiistbr,movedthe second reading of the Constitution 'Alieration Bill (dealing witli .trade combines and monopolies).

>: Mr,.- Hughes said, tlie proposed alteratioii would not lead to unification. The •Federal:-, 'compact • required two powersl- - Rational' arid; State; the Federal' Parliament wanted, all the powers, that were ,I'eally .. national.. ... It was essential that iit should govern commerce. . It had been thought/.that Parliament, liad the- power ■toj. govern monopolies, but it, had been ifound. that'it : liad' hot. : Australia was not going to sit idle regarding this greatrat, danger of modern days. It was-not ireasonable .to 'raise the standard; of living,;- and:.leaye'the!: people in the hands. ■of those powers that could- fix. prices. Twenty-nine monopolies had come under, .the : notice.' of. the Government., * ~'Tliwould haW'to ;te'a'oh the. people that pro;fits';as J .:well.: as wages must.be susceptible -to legislation. ...

MR. DEAKIN UTTERS A WARNING ~ . (Ecc. October. 20, 0.50 a.m. .'

Melbourne, October 19. ; Mr. Deakin, Leader of the Opposition; strongly; opposed the Constitution Alterai tion. was 'dangerous,; he declared, tosfturryi;through legislation- involving ? -No urgency existed for such changes as were'proposed, and danger.lay,, in the. over-oenirali nation iwhich■;must - arise . concentrating peculiar State '. powers, in the Federal authority;\WOhce the '.Federal; 'Parliament 'took' the powers ' proposed ':' the vStates would become sleeping partners who need never;. j)e.; consulted. hThe Bill:, meant a,Umtary Government m place of a Federal Government. ■ 1 ,