AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1696, 31 August 1904, Page 25

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

MR REID’S ADDRESS CRITICISED. SYDNEY, August 23. In the course of an interview to- • . the late Premier, Mr J. C. Watson, said Mr Reid’s address to the electors of tho Commonwealth was framed with a view to consolidate the Conservative vote and to frighten timid people into the belief that there was a conspiracy on the part of trade unionists to get control of the electoral machinery. The address, continued Mr Watson, was a distinct attack on trade unionists. Apart altogether from -the mere question of preference involved in the Arbitration Bill, the pretence that the labour unionists were trying to use the Judge of the Arbitration Court as an instrument of a dangerous and selfish movement was ridiculous. It was hardly likely that trade unionists would rely on a Judge, who was necessarily apart from their class, and, therefore, not likely to be prejudiced in their favour. Mr Reid’s Ministry, he concluded, was under the complete domination of the small Conservative section of the House. WEST AUSTRALIA. POLICY OF THE DAGLISH GOVERNMENT. PERTH. August 24. The Premier (Mr Daglish) has announced the policy of the Government. He intends to appoint a thoroughly capable business man as Agent-General, rather than a gentleman to appear at social functions. In view of the declining revenue a spirited public works policy will be abandoned. He proposes at the next general election to take a referendum on the adoption of a Single Chamber Constitution and household suffrage. Old age pensions will be introduced, the money being raised by a tax on the totalisator used by. racing clubs and the profits from State hotels. A tax on the unimproved value of land, with. £IOOO exemption, is proposed. The Government also desires to -place the mining industry on suoh a footing that the community will share in the profits distributed. THE SITUATION IN NEW SOUTH WABEB. WADDELL MINISTRY RESIGNS. SYDNEY, August 25. The loader of the Labour party moved an amendment to the Address-in-R©ply to the effect that the impending resignation of the Ministry and the uncertainty of the personnel of tho iiew Government are impediments to the granting of Supply. The Premier, Mr Waddell, replying to a question in the Legislative Assembly, said that the New Zealand Government had declined to enter into any scheme providing for reciprocity in regard to old age pensions, but an understanding had been arrived at with Victoria. SYDNEY, August 26. The amendment moved by Mr McGowen, leader of the Labour party—that the impending resignation of the and the uncertainty ’of the per-

scnnel of the new Government are impediments to the granting of Supply—was rejected by 53 votes to 26. The Address-in-Rcply was passed on the voices. The Assembly sat all night. Parliament has adjourned until September 20th. Th© Premier, Mr Waddell, will resign to-morrow morning. SYDNEY, August 27. The Premier, Mr Thomas Waddell, whose Government was defeated at. the recent polls, handed the resignation of himself and colleagues to tho Governor, Sir llarry Dawson, to-day. His Excellency then sent for Mr C'arruthers, who has been given fill 'Tuesday to form a Ministry. QUEENSLAN D ELECTIONS. LABOUR PARTY’S SUCCESS. OPPOSITION ROUTED. BRISBANE, August 23. The general elections yesterday resulted in an overwhelming victory for tho Morgan-Labour coalition, who practically swept tho polls. A good many of the returns are still incomplete, but only in one or two cases can they affect the results. As tho figures stand at present, the Labour party lias increased its strength from twenty-three to tinrij-nve, wmio the Morganites have increased from thirteen to twenty-one —both cases representing a corresponding loss to the Opposition, who secured only fifteen seats. A feature of the election was the defeat- of Sir Arthur Rutledge, leader of tho Opposition; Mr T. B. Cribb, Mr J. F. G. Foxton, and Mr D. it. Dalrympio. all of whom hold portfolios in the Ph i 1 p Government.