FEDERAL POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15715, 7 September 1911, Page 7

FEDERAL POLITICS.

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

MELBOURNE, September 6

The noticeable feature of tho opening of the Federal Parliament was the disappearance of tho mace. Tho Scr-geaUt-at-Arius had also been deprived of his knee-breeches, which were- replaced by tho regulation nether garments. Tho clerks of Parliament were without wigs. In the Senate tho usher of tho Blackrobo carried no sword. Tho Speaker said that tlie changes had been made with his authority.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

(Received Scfftembor 6, 11.25- p.m.) MELBOURNE, September 6.

In the debate on tlie Address-in-Re-ply, Mr Dcakin warmly deprecated talk of separation. To break from tlie Empire would mean to break from tho Empire treaties, which wero most important to tho dominions. Ho was convinced that tho greater tho danger the greater the appeal it would make to Australia, and the warmer tho response. Ho saddled the Government with tho responsibility of the sugar strike. If it had appointed a Commission to inquire into the industry there would, have been no strike.

Mr Fisher, replying, accepted the. responsibility for not appointing a Sugar Commission. Ho thought it would have been mischievous, but tho time had now arrived to hold an inquiry into the whole industry. Ho was hopeful of. good results from negotiations for reciprocal trado with other countries. No limit, it appeared to him, should exist in reciprocity between New Zealand and tho Commonwealth, tlie former’s destinies wero so closely linked with those of Australia.