QUEENSLAND POLITICS. THE ELECTIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 3, 4 January 1908, Page 5

QUEENSLAND POLITICS. THE ELECTIONS.

PREMIER ISSUES A MANIFESTO. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. liRISBANE, 3rd January. In connection with the general elections, the Premier, Mr. Philp, has issued a mtnifesto to tho electors. 'lhe main points of the Government programme, as se* out in the manifesto, are : — It is intended without delay to pass a measure with tho object of fostering oversea transport by subsidising a lino of steamers 'pVovidßd with sufficient refrigerated space for the trade betv. ecn Queensland and Great Britain and tho East via Torres Strait. It is intended to reduce the number of members of the House of Assembly, and to placo representation in the Legislative Council on an elective basis. A measure will bo introduced providing for the establishment of Wages Boards. Payments under the old ago pension schemo will bo increased to 10s weekly. It is intended to provide for the taking of a referendum on the question of religious instruction in the public schools. The cle:tlons will take place on sth February. The trouble with tho Legislative Council is one of long standing. During the last four years, according to Mr.* KMston, there has been manifested in the Council a spirit of obstruction to measures sent up to it by the House, and ns <i> remedy he advised the Governor that there resided in the Crown the power to nominate to the Council such a number of new members as might be required to overcome obstruction nnd that such power should ho exercised if in the opinion of the Government such a course "became necessary. The Governor declined to accede to the request, and Mr. Philp was sent for. Both Mr. Philp and Mr. Kidston seem to be intent on dealing with the Council, but in different ways. Tho Labour Parly appeals to the people to put an end to the obstructive chamber. The last general election, held in May, 1907, resulted : — 3linisterialists (Kidstonians) 24, Opposition 30, Labour 18. The Labourites gave the Government more or less effective Bupport. In his last election platform, Mr. Kidston included the following planks : Encouragement of mining, water conservation, Wagjes Boards, and similar Labour legislation, liquor law reform, and old age pensions. The Hon. Mr. Denham, in a recent speech, said that while the Socialists demanded the abolition of the Legislative Council and the Kidston-Socialists wished to stuff it, the Philp Government would advocate a 'reform of the second Chamber by making it elective and upon a liberal qualification. Districts would be allotted to each member, so that when a vacancy arose a new member would be elected to fill that vacancy. Tho policy of the Philp Government would Be to encourago the fullest development of the resources of the State, a policy of railway construction to- include every district where tho construction of a line Was warranted ; a liberal immigration policy ; and tho fullest possiblo encouragement to land settlement. These were the lines upon which ths election would bo fought.