AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 25

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

MELBOURNE, October 15. The Senate will consider the capital cite question on the 29th int-f. October 16. Tie Federal House of Representatives decided that merit as against length of service ehouM prevail in all military appointments under the citizens' defence system. "a bill providing that, in the event of total losses by fire, policy-holders should be entitled to the whole of the amount for which they are insured was negatived. SYDNEY, October 15. Mr Wad-, tbe State Premier, gave an imeympajthetic reply to a deputation asking him to introduce a bill for the application of the eight-hour principle wherever practicable. HOBART, October 15. A -want-of-confidence debate is progressing in the As-.embly over ilia action of tha Government in paying two judges an extra salary to do the work usually performed by threo. October 16. On the resumption of the waat-of-confi-dence debate the Premier read a letter he had received from the judges notifying that if extra pay were voted them for doing the work previously done by another judge they would not accept it. The Premier therefore moved that tiie amount be etruck out. The motion was carried. During the debate the Premier intimated that the judges intended to refund the ! £250 extra pay they had i&eady received.