FEDERAL POLITICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1917, Page 2

FEDERAL POLITICS

NEW GOVERNMENTS POLICY.

POSITION OF PARTIES,

MELBOURNE, February 22. , When i’aruument reassembled Mi*. Hughes gave notice oi motion seeking ior permission to present a petition to tlie imperial Government, a slang fui* the prolongation of the pie of parliament for six months after peace is declared, or until Btn.October, 1818. MrHughes then outlined the policy ot the new Government, which stood for the development of an Australian national'spirit by the foundation of imperial ideals and to develop the policy or tne late Government to maintain an entirely White Australia, 'lire policy woultl create machinery for the expeditious settlement of industrial disputes, i here, would be no alteration in the tariff just now. Regarding conscription, the Government would abide by the decision of the people, it was impossible to see what the future had in store, but the electors alone coiiid reverse their previous decision; the Government, he continued) intended to fully carry out its duty in repatriating soldiers. The C’omnionwealth had already incurred a debt in connection with the war of £131,000,000 and obligations for tlie calendar year for the war alone would not fall far short of £70,000,000, and for other purposes than war, including repatriation and land settlement for soldiers, and financing the 1817-18 wheat crop another £70,000,000 would be required. The probability of floating loans in Britain, other than war loans, was remote. His financial policy therefore would be such as the circumstances imperatively demanded —sound finance, but not the odious economy of reducing wages of the working classes, or methods ot forcing men to enlist. He regretted that the Official Labour Party had not joined the National Government, The reason was obvious the Official Labour Party was no longer master of its own actions.

In dealing with the Senate’s attitude, Mr. Hughes declared that his resolution not only outlined the present position of the parties in Parliament, so far as affected the Imperial --Conference. but provided the only moans by which Australia could effectively be represented. Their responsi-bility<-tor maintaining such an attitude as the present was that effective representation must rest on the shoulders of the majority of* the Senate.

EXTENSION OE PARLIAMENT’S LIFE

OPPOSED BY THE CAUCUS

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

Received this day at 10.30 a-in. MELBOURNE, This Day. The caucus decided to oppose a. motion postponing- the life of Parliament, which will probably be defeated bv one vote ini the Senate.

AVOIDING DUAL TAXATION,

[ausxhalian and n.z. cable association.)

Received this dav at 9.15 a.in. MELBOURNE. This Day. Mr. Hughes said that the Government hoped to arrange with the States to avoid dual taxation on the same assets.

AUSTRALIA’S PART IN THE WAR.

AN APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM

[ADSTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

Received this day at 9.45 a.m MELBOURNE, This Hay.

Mr Hughes made a glowing appeal on the necessity of Australia doing her utmost to help win the Avar, Avhereto. the new Ministry was fully pledged. He reoninded tho House of the Hon. A. Fisher's promise of the last man and the last shilling, Mr Tudor secured an adjournment of the debate.

Senator Milieu made a policy statement in ihe Senate. The debate was Adjourned.

LABOUR PARTY.

PLATFORM DEFINED

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

SYDNEY, Tliis Day. Mr John Storey outlined the policy of the new Labour Party. The chief points are an emphatic repudiation of any connection with the 1.W.W., a declaration that the Referendum vote was not duly against conscription, but against conscriptionists. It favours a loan policy, the development of a State Bank with control of private banks, educational and housing reforms, the latter to he undertaken by the State and municipalities, full civil and political rights for women, a minimum living wage for women workers, pensions for widows, reduction of taxes on incomes from personal exertion and production. These taxes to be small, with a .corresponding,; increase of taxes upon unearned incomes; and an adhesion to the industrial and arbitration system.