FEDERAL POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 27

FEDERAL POLITICS

MELBOURNE, August 19. Over 73 per cent, of electors voted at the recent Federal elections, as compared with 53 per cent, in 1911, and 62 per cent, in 1910. Speaking at Coburg Mr Fisher said the present Government was trying to sandpaper the sores of the toiling masses. It proposed to pauperise the people, but the Labour party was endeavouring to benefit them. The Labour movement, however, was one that could not be kept back. Mr Tudor created a sensation in the Federal House of Representatives to-day by stating that the Government had proclaimed the Sugar Bounty and Excise Abolition Act at a time when the Colonial Sugar Company held huge reserves, on which duties amounting to £IOO,OOO would have been levied if the proclamation had been slightly delayed. August 20. The lion. Mr Groom, in replying to Mr Tudor, who complained yesterday that the Government had proclaimed the Sugar Bounty and Excise Abolition Act at a time when the Colonial Sugar Company held huge reserves, on which duties amounting to £IOO,OOO would have been levied if the proclamation had been slightly delayed, blamed the late Government for making no provision to meet the difficulty. It is understood that the Government is introducing a Bill to provide for the payment of the excise duty on all sugar in bond when the excise was repealed. August 21. The censure debate is dragging alom The Opposition is delaying the division as long as possible to enable three of Its members who are at present unavailable to be in their places when the division is taken. SYDNEY, August 25. Mr Cook says that the Government is unconcerned over the result of the censure motion. The Opposition have taken up the attitude : ‘‘ We can’t govern, and you shan’t.” Business, therefore, is impossible if this attitude is maintained.