THE COMMONWEALTH

Otago Witness, Issue 2955, 2 November 1910, Page 29

THE COMMONWEALTH

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. MELBOURNE, October 26. Federal Ministers have completed a bill for the rectification of certain tariff anomalies, but there will be no general revision until next session. The committee of business men who tried to secure a modification of the land tax have abandoned further efforts. They express the opinion that the tax is th« most fatal blow ever given to Australian credit in London. The House of Representatives passed the Northern Territory Bill through oom« mittee. The Senate read the Land Tax Bill a second time by 16 to 6. The Senate is making good progress with the Land Tax Bill in committee. Numerous amendments were discussed!, . but so far none of any importance have been carried. In the House of Representatives the Constitution Alteration Bill was further considered. Mr Hughes moved a clause empowering the Commonwealth to control wages and conditions of labour, including railways. He said the Government was not contented with one authority to fix the industrial conditions in Australia, but claimed that there should be one court to review the whole of the industrial \ matters. There was no desire to do * away with the Wages Boards. A October 29. '~ 1 After disposing of the Constitution Act Amendment Bill, the House of Represen- ' tatives Tose till after the Cup meeting. The Senate made good progress with the Land Tax Bill, and then adjourned till Wednesday. WEST AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. PERTH, October 26. In the Assembly the Premier (Mr Wilson) delivered the Budget. The year ended with a surplus of £221,000. The estimated revenue for the current year was £3.737,047, and the expenditure £3,633,343. OeUber 27. The Premier has announced that he in- i tends in April next to redeem £1,576,000 worth of 4 per cent, debentures, j | QUESTION OF STATE RIGHTS. MELBOURNE, October 31. The State Premier (Mr Murray) strongly protests against the Federal Constitution Amendment Bill including j railway servants within its provisions^. The Minister of Water Supply (Mr Graham) says that those responsible ' for the inclusion are acting like a band of brigands, and filching State rights. Unless the States as now constituted were to disappear, this sort of legislation would have to be checked.