AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 34

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Melbourne, November 28. The Premier (Mr Turner), replying to the hostile motion of Mr McKenzie, declared the circumstances of Victoria are so desperate that the House must agree to the proposed taxation. He explained that the Government had used all available moneys, including trust funds. This statement, he said, had been withheld from the Budget, and now was only disclosed to show the present necessity •of the House according support to the Government’s financial proposals. Sir J. B. Patterson, the ex-Premier, condemned the action of the Premier in repeatedly declaring that the colony is on the verge of bankruptcy. Personally he was prepared to support the Government provided the Land Tax proposal was withdrawn. The House is still sitting. The members of the Government are confident of a majority of at least ten. Later. Mr McKenzie’s motion was defeated by 55 to 33. Perth, November 28. A long debate has taken place in the Legislati re Assembly on a want-of-confi-dence motion based on disapproval of the unauthorised expenditure. On a division the Government won by a majority of eleven. Pai Lament prorogues to-day. Brisbane, November 30. A Ministerial crisis has arisen: In the Legislative Assembly Mr J. Hamilton moved the adjournment of the House in order to protest against the Government not giving effect to the wish of the majority of the House for an increase in the payment of members. Mr Power contended that when the Legislative Council rejected the Payment of Members Bill the Government should have tacked the amount on to the Appropriation Bill. The motion was carried by 32 to 28. In the Assembly to-day Mr Nelson said the Government considered the issue had not been fairly put yesterday, and in order to test the feeling of the House he moved to go into Committee of Supply. The debate was treated as onb of want of confidence, and the division resulted in favour of the Government by 31 to 30. The business was then proceeded with. Sydney, November 30. Mr Clark, a Freetrader, has been elected for Willoughby, vice Mr Cullen, resigned.