AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1695, 24 August 1904, Page 22

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

TIFTE FEDERAL CRISIS. NEW AIINISTRY FORMED BY THE RIGHT HON. G. H. REOLD. MELBOURNE, August 16. Mr Reid has announced that Sir George Turner (who was Treasurer in the Deakin Administration) has definitely consented to join him. Mir Watson promises to give Mir Reid ©very consideration, and says he hopes members will not strew tacks in the way of Mr Reid’s cycle. He does not think Mr Reid will be able to carry on, owing to the discordant elements in the party he leads. Mr Reid is making good progress in forming his Cabinet, but does not expect to complete his task before Thursday. * Mr Watson has consented to Mr Reid’s suggestion /to move, when the House meets to-morrow, to adjourn till Thursday. Sir George Turner, who’ is to be Treasurer in x>he new Ministry, states that, in consequence of the forwardness of Mi* Watson’s preparation, h© will be able to deliver his Budget in three weeks. The “Age” declares that if any protectionist joins the Reid coalition it will be such an act of party perfidy as no organised body could afford to forget. No protectionist should sully his escutcheon by allying himself with a man and a cause which have been decisively rejected by. the country. The “Argus,” which approves a coalition, says the fiscal question has been definitely set aside, for this Parliament at least, by all but a very small section, who are using it in the hope of embarrassing Mr Reid. MELBOURNE, August 17. The House of Representatives, which adjourned on Friday owing to the defeat of the Government, sat for only a few minutes to-day. Mr Watson announced that to-mor-row ho will move that the House pass Supply, and will also state his reasons for resigning. He then moved the adjournment till to-morrow, when Mr Reid will announce the personnel of his Ministry. MELBOURNE, August 18. The new Federal Ministry was sworn in to-day. Its personnel is as follows: Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs—Right Hon G. H. Reid, P.C., K.C. , Treasurer —Right Hon Sir George Turner, P.C., K.C.M.G. Attorney-General—Senator Sir Josiah H. Symon, K.0.M.G., K.C. Minister of Home Affairs—Mr Dugald Thomson (member for Sydney North). Minister of Trade and Customs —Hon Allan McLean (member for Gippsland). Minister of Defence—Hon J. W. McQay (member for Corinella, Victoria). ' Postmaster-General Hon Sydney Smith (member for Macquarie, New South Wales). . Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council —Senator Hon J. G. Drake. Mr Reid, in announcing his Ministry to the House of Representatives, explained that Sir George Turner joined him on terms of equality and in the capacity of joint-leader, and had astsist-„-ed in selecting the Cabinet. Owing, however, to the condition of his health Srecluding any work beyond his own epartment, Sir George Turner had resigned the joint-leadership, and Mr McLean had been asked to accept that position. Sir Josiah Symon is to act as leader of the Senate. The late Premier, Mr Watson, congratulated the Ministry, and promised -it fair play. A Supply Bill of £326,000 was passed, and the House adjourned till September 6th to allow Mr Reid to prepare his policy. During the debate on the Supply Bill, Mr C. McDonald bitterly attacked Mr Raid. He said he (Mr Reid) had no majority, but had compelled men to join him by absolutely sinking the convictions of a lifetime —men he had treated with political contempt. He had not the courage to bring a no-confidence motion against the Labour Government; therefore he adopted a subterfuge and a trick. Mr McDonald accused Mr Deakin of a base act of treachery in negotiating with Free Trade and Labour parties at the same time. In fact, he said, Mr Deakin had his party up for sale to the highest bidder. Other members also condemned the coalition. Sir William Lyne announced that an early opportunity would be taken,- after the reassembling of Parliament, to test whether Mr Reid had a majority. Mr Mauger. one of the small party of uncompromising protectionists, including Sir Wiliam Lyne, who refuse to have anything to do with a coalition, intends to mov.e early in the Parliament in favour of preference to British goods, and requesting the introduction of a bill on the lines of the New ' Zealand measure. Mr Deakin considers that Mr Mauger’s action is calculated to shatter the Protectionist party in the House. Negotiations are proceeding between the uncompromising protectionist section and the Labour party, with a view

to the formation of a united Liberal policy. LONDON, August 17. The “Morning Post,” in a leading article, congratulates Mr Deakin and Mr Reid on saving Australia from the eccentricities and extravagances of a Labour Government, and declares that the sound position of Australian finances is due to Sir George Turner’s ability and patience. SYDNEY, August 19. The Labour Council carried a resolution appreciative of Mi’ Watson leaving office rather than abandon his principles. The “Sydney Morning Herald” declares that Mr Reid’s Ministry is as strong a combination as is obtainable in the present Parliament, and will do credit to any Parliament. Mr Watson says he is confident that if Mr Reid had moved a direct vote of want-of-confidence it would have been defeated. Consequently he cannot see how Mr Reid is likely to command a majority on general questions which he cannot avoid long. Mr Watson is extremely sorry he was not granted a dissolution, and is confident he would have won ten seats. Then ho would have had a working majority. SYDNEY, August 21. Mir Reid has issued an address to the electors of the Commonwealth. He is unable to indicate his policy till Cabinet has considered it. Referring to the attitude of the Labour party, the Premier says his supp« tiers were beginning to suspect gigantic conspiring* against the freedom of the general body of workers, and to make trade® unions a scries of political agencies. The unions, Labour caucuses, and the Arbitration Court, he declares, were all intended as instruments of a dangerous, selfish movement. Mr Reid adds that his party thoroughly believes in a fearless forward policy, but not on roads leading to Socialistic and insane extremes. LONDON, August 21. “ The Times ” publishes an article dealing with the new position which has arisen in the Australian Federal Parliament. Commenting on the task of the new Premier, Mr Reid, “The Times ” says the dominant factor in the situation is the necessity for showing a resolute and united front to the Labour party’s policy, which, if carried logically, would imperil the prosperity-, and peace of Australia and the permanent connection of the Empire. It is doubtful, says “ The Times,” whether any combination of existing groups can be trusted to unflinchingly resist the dangerous movement towards extreme forms of State Socialism. It is high time to make an escape from the perilous quicksands of the system of groups which engulphed the character and credit of many Legislatures in all parts of the world. SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S BUDGET. ADELAIDE, August 19. In the Assembly the Treasurer delivered his Budget Speech. The revenue for the past year totalled £2,510,000 an increase of £28,000. The expenditure was £2,543,000. The Treasurer estimates the cuiTent year’s revenue, based on an eight-bushel harvest, at £2,618,947, and the expenditure, including £169,000 for reducing non-recurrent liabilities, at £2,585,476. He proposes an additional farthing land tax and the placing of the income-tax exemption at £l5O. The outlook is, he says, promising, but strict economy for years to come and resistance of the temptation to borrow were necessary. SYDNEY, August 17. Rumours were current of a probable Carruthers-Waddell coalition, and Mr Waddell to-day telegraphed to the Mayor of Carcoar, stating that there was no possibility of a coalition between the parties, and asking him to contradict the story. BRISBANE, August 20. Eighteen members have been returned unopposed, including eleven Labour candidates. PERTH, August 20. All the Ministers, except Mr Drew, have been returned unopposed.