FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11896, 26 May 1903, Page 7

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

FORECAST OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, May 25. In the forecast of the Governor-General's Speech a number of important measures are referred to. Bills will be submitted providing for the setting up of a Federal High Court, the ratification of the Naval Agreement, a uniform system of defence, for regulating legal procedure so as to minimise delay or expense, for accepting New Guinea as a territory of the Commonwealth, for the establishment of a Federal Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, providing for a High Commissioner in London, uni u>rm patent laws, naturalisation of aliens, dealing with rings and trusts, and for tho establishment of an inter-State Commission in connection with the effort to substitute white for colored labor in the sugar industry. It is stated that a change is rendered necessary in the present method of allowing rebates, which are charged against the States concerned, by a bonus, which will in future be borne by the whole population. Owing to pressure of domestic lcg;slation, it is understood that no resolutions dealing with the Colonial Conference decisions will be submitted. It is probable that Parliament will be asked to affirm the desirability of the construction of a railway to Westralia, and to authorise the necessary surveys. Although consideration ‘ will be given to the question of taking over State debts, it is not likely that the mat-, ter will be dealt with this session. It may also be found necessary to hold over the Navigatioi Bill. Allusion will be made to the Pacific Cable and the new agreement with the Eastern Extension Company, and it will be added that it cannot be expected that the Pacific Cable will immediately return a profit, but it has had the effect of securing a reduction of rates. Action will be foreshadowed with regard to making fresh mail contracts in consonance with the decision to prohibit the employment of colored labor on mail steamers.