FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7263, 20 October 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

'MINIMUM WAGES AND CONSTITU- | XION BILL. ijjjr Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. {Received October 20, 0.50 a.m.) MELBOURNE. October 19. , Ini tie House of Representatives, rejplying to a question whether tire Govern,anent was prepared to introduce a Bill 'fixing the minimum wage for adult employees of the Commonwealth at eight (shillings per day, Mr King O’Malley, {Minister for Home Affairs, said the payment of such a wage would, in many cases, be excessive* and ont of proportion .to tbe seryices .rendered. The Govern{ment must regard its, responsibilities in (other directions before involving the Commonwealth in an additional expenditure of .£60,000 annually, i Mr A. Deakin, leader of the Opposition. strongly opposed the Constitution lAlteration Bill. It was dangerous to [hurry through legislation involving expensive alterations. No urgency existed ifor such changes. The danger lay in lover-centralisation, which must arise through concentrating peculiar State powers in the Federal-authority. Once' itho Federal Parliament took the powers (proposed the States would become sleeping partners, who need, never he con-: suited. It meant unitary government In blaoe of Federal government. , - ■ a ~.