STATE PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 14003, 9 March 1909, Page 6

STATE PREMIERS' CONFERENCE.

EXTRAVAGANCE IN GOVERNMENT.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

HOBART, March 8. The Hon. Mr Fisher (Federal Prime Minister), Mr Mahon (Home Affairs), and Mr Hughes (Attorney-General) attended the State Premiers' Conference. Mr Fisher, in a general statement, outlined the growing requirements and expanding obligations of tho Commonwealth. He intimated that he would disclose the financial policy of the Government in a speech which would be delivered at Gympie at the end of the month. He had no scheme to submit to the Conference as regards the settlement of the Braddon clause oimculty, but he would be glad to receive any representations the Conference had to make.

Mr Mahon dealt with the lavish expenditure of some of the States. Although Federation in 1900 relieved them of departments costing four millions annually, the expenditure of the States had grown from four and a-half to seven and a-half millions, while at the same time the population from the dato of Federation till 1906 had remained practically stationary. It would be idle to contend that any development in Australia during the past eight years warranted such a huge increase in the cost of government.