FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 14514, 4 November 1910, Page 6

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

CONSTITUTION TINKERING. • BOUNTIES ON HOME PRODUCTS. i?reßs Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, November 3. The third reading of the Constitution Amendment Bill, dealing with monoplies, lias been carried by 38 votes to 20. The Oil Bounties Bill, which has been introduced, provides for the- payment of bounties on kerosene and paraffin wax from Australian shale. Fur this purpose the sum of £50,000 is appropriated out of the Consolidated revenue for three years, commencing on July 1. The schedule provides for a bounty of 2d per gallon on kercnene having a flash point not lower than 73deg Falirenheit, and 2s 6d per cwt on refined paraffin wax. PONY POSTAGE. MELBOURNE, November 3. In moving the second reading of the Postage Bill, Mr Thomas said lie was anxious that it should come into operation •lot later than April 13. He estimated that penny postage throughout Australia would mean a loss of £400,000 a year. If Imperial penny postage was adopted it would involve a further loss of £50,000 a year. The loss would be made up by direct taxation. The debate was adjourned. A COMMJTfEE OF ADVICE. THE LAND TAX BILL. MELBOURNE, November 4. (Received November 4, at 9 a.m.) A committeo lias been appointed to adviso the Employers' Federation concerning the Government's Referenda Bills. It is considered that all employers' interests are jeopardised by tho Commonwealth Government's industrial proposals. In tho Senate the Land Tax Bill was read a second time, and reported without amendment. Tho Government- hope to-close the session on the 18th. BILL PASSES THE SKXATE, MELBOURNE, November 4. (Received November 4, at 9.40 a.m.) During the second reading debate in the Senate on the Naval Defence Bill Mr Gould thought they should make it plain that the Commonwealth, would place her ships under the control of the Imperial authorities in time of war. Mr Stewart deprecated the navy ad too csjiensive. A citizen army of a quarter of a milium men should be able to defend Australia against any enemy. Ho instanced the Boer War by way of illustration. Mr Pcarco (Minister o£ Defence): "We should have a comic opera army." The second reading was carried, and the Bill reported without amendment. The Military Board have recommended the Minister not to take action regarding the establishment of an aviation corps.