FEDERAL POLITICS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12704, 12 March 1904, Page 3

FEDERAL POLITICS.

SPEECH BY MR KINGSTON. (Received March 11, 9.57 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Friday. Mr Kingston, in the debate on the Address-in-reply, warned the Government that there were already symptoms of a fall from democratic legislation. They were unwarily approaching a pitfall. The success of the Arbitration Act depended on compliance with its award on both sides. Stern justice should be meted out to those who set it at defiance. He would strongly oppose excluding any portion of the shipping trade from the operations of the Act, nor should civil servants he excluded. He favoured preferential trade, but would like to see our duties kept as they are against Great Britain, but raised against foreigners. Ho did not think it would come for some time, but when it did he. hoped there would be no haggling over details. He did not like the idea of inviting any Imperial statesman hero to advocate the cause. Australian interests should only be dealt with by the Australian Government, which should make up its mind on the policy to he pul. by it before the people. He was inclined to resent the invitation to Mr Chamberlain. What would be said if Australia sent someone to England to advocate their side of the Imperial issue. The debate was adjourned till Tuesday. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY ADOPTED. MELBOURNE, Friday. The Federal Senate has adopted the Address-in-Reply.