THE COMMONWEALTH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 109, 4 November 1910, Page 7

THE COMMONWEALTH.

DEFENCE BILL DEBATE. "A NAVY TOO EXPENSIVE." " COMIC OPERA ARMY."Bj Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received November 4, 10.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. In the Federal Senate, during the second reading debate on the Naval Defence Bill, Senator Gould said he thought they should maSe it plain that the Commonwealth would place its ships un-isr the control of the Imperial authorities in time of Avar. .Senator Stewart deprecated a !Navy, as too expensive. A citizen army of a quarter of a million should enable Australia. to_defend herself against any enemy. He instanced the Boer -War. Senator Pearce, Minister for Defence : «— "We have a comic opera army." The second reading was carried, and the Bill reported without amendment. AVIATION CORPS. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT NO ACTION BE TAKEN. (Received November 4, 10.50 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Military Board recommended Senator Peaa'ce not to take action regarding the establishment of an aviation corps LAND TAX BILL. SECOND READING. (Received November 4, 11.20 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The Land Tax Bill was read a second time in the Senate and reported without amendment. CLOSE OF SESSION. MELBOURNE, This Day. The Federal Government hopes to close the session on the 18th inst. EMPLOYERS' INTERESTS. 'A COMMITTEE'S REPORT. (Received November 4, 11.5 a.m.) ; MELBOURNE, This Day. The committee appointed to advise the Employers' Federation concerning referenda BUls, reported that it considered tne employers' interest jeopardised oy the Commonwealth Government's industrial proposals. OIL BOUNTIES BILL. SUM OF £50,000 PROPOSED TO BE APPROPRIATED. I MELBOURNE, 3rd November. Tho Oil Bounties Bill has been introduced in the Federal House of Represen- j tatives. It provides for the payment of bounties for the production of kerosense and paraffin wax from Australian j shale. A sum of £50,000 is to be appropriated out of the consolidated revenue ior the purpose for three years, commencing on Ist July next. * j The schedule provides for a bounty of twopence a gallon on kerosene having a flash point not lower than 73 degrees Fahrenheit, and half-a-crown per hundred weight on refined paraffin wax. PENNY POSTAGE. ESTIMATED LOSS— £4OO,OOO A YEAR. MELBOURNE, 3rd November. Mr. Josiah Thomas, Postmaster-Gen-eral, in moving the second .reading of the Postage Bill, stated that he was anxious for it to come into operation not later than 13th April next. He estimated that penny postage throughout Australia would mean a loss of £400,000 a year. If the concession were confined to correspondence within the- various States, there would be a loss of £275,000, but' if Imperial penny postage was also adopted it would involve a further loss of £50,000 a year. The loss would be made up by direct taxation. The debate on the Bill was adjourned. COMBINES AND MONOPOLIES. THIRD READING OF THE BILL. MELBOURNE, November 3. The House of Representatives carried the third reading of the Constitution Alteration (Monopolies) Bill by 38 to 20." [The Bill proposes to amend the Constitution by extending the legislative powers of the Commonwealth. It will give power to deal with trade and commerce whether State, inter-State, or foreign ; also for the creation of provision for the regulation of trade corporations and to enable the Commonwealth to make laws for the settlement and prevention of industrial disputes of all kinds. A further amendment gives power to deal with combinations and monopolies in relation to the production, manufacture, or supply of goods or services. With reference to the last clause, Mr. Hughes (Attorney-General and ActingPrime Minister) stated when he introduced the measure that they would be able to make laws regulating production and distribution. It was under this power that the Government's antitrust legislation would be introduced. That legislation would be be of a more far-reaching character than could be introduced at present. If the Bill passes it will be submitted to a referendum in April next.]