The Commonwealth.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7841, 19 May 1904, Page 8

The Commonwealth.

The Proposed Coalition

Received May 19, at 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, May 19. The Deakinites have failed to come to an agreement so far. They meet again to-day. The Radical section, when they found that Mr Deakin would not accept a portfolio in a new aclministration, became violently opposed to the coalition scheme. Mr Deakin is stated' to have said that, having become convinced that a three-party scheme would not work, he said he had provided a means, by agreement with Mr Reid, for abolishing it, and though he recommended it to his party he could not take a portfolio in any new administration.

In the statement of agreement it is rdcognised that no proposals affecting the trade relations within tho Empire can be looked for from the Mother Country during-' the life cf the present Commonwealth Parliament, but the maintenance of a truce for that period is not to prevent the acceptance of statutory concessions olfered by any other part of the Empire. It,' also, provides tbat offers from Britain shall be considered. The Labour Party declare they are not averse to any proper coalition, and were ready to welcome every Democratic member in tne House who believed in their policy. All members, pledged and unpledged, would be placed on the same footing, and absolutely no difference would be made between them.