AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 27

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

SYDNEY, July‘7

The State Parliament opened to-day, with the usual ceremony. The Governor’s Speech, as - foreshadowed, concerns practically every department of legislation, it indicates many reforms, a vigorous policy of public works in connection with the State’s needs, and decentralisation is promised.

Mr Cann was elected deputy leader of the parliamentary Labour party, vacant since Mr Holman succeeded Mr M'Gowan as leader. July 8. In the Assembly to-day, Mr Wade moved an addition to the Ad dress -in -E ep ly, that, owing to the accusations made by the Premier against Mr Meagher, imputing to him grave misconduct as a member of Parliament,' this House is of opinion that, in the public interest and in order to maintain the purity of public life and the good name of Parliament, the accusations should be investigated by Eoyal Commission or the charges publicly withdrawn. July -9.

Mr Wade’s action in moving an amendment on the Address-in-Reply arose out of what is known as th? Holman-Meagher controversy. This latter was the outcome of Mr Meagher’s a'ttitude over nominations to the Legislative Councel being controlled by caucus instead of Cabinet, which at one time threatened to split the parliamentary Labour party. Mr Holman, in speeches made during the recess, showed strong resentment against the Labour Conference’s attempt to control nominations to the Legislative Council, and warmly criticised Mr Meagher’s attitude in the matter.

Mr Holman, in the Assembly yesterday made a vigorous reply to Mr Wade. The Premier denied that there was anything in the nature of a chargej as had been suggested by Mr Wade. No one could read into the words he used any impropriety, either implied or intended, against any member of the House. In all 1 sincerity he assured the House that tho honour of Parliament was safe in the keeping of the Government. If he were to become aware of anything that called for investigation he would take immediate action without any prompting. July 10. The Liberal Conference negatived a motion in favour of making the Legislative Council an elective body. It was resolved that members be disabled from increasing their salaries without first consulting the country. BRISBANE, July 7. Mr Andrew Fisher, in a speech at Buhdaberg last night, announced the Federal Opposition policy. He favoured resubmitting the Referenda Bills as a means of securing industrial peace and of dealing with trusts, combines, and monopolies, including the Beef Trust, which he declared already bad a hold in Australia. Other Labour proposals are: -Stateowned oversea steamers, a State-owned Atlantic cable, a national insurance scheme, the initiative and referendum, the development ’Of oversea markets, a Commonwealth bank, a uniform railway gauge, and the careful nursing of military and naval defence —although he was relentlessly opposed to borrowing for defence—the continuance of the maternity bonus, and the provision of funds for the prevention and cure of cancer, consumption, and the red plague. Mr Fisher added: “We fully favour reciprocal relations with New Zealand, Canada, and the other dominions, and favour every means being adopted to draw all of us closer together.’’ July 8. The Governor opened the State Parlia-

ment yesterday. The legislative programme contains nothing startling. The report of the inquiry into the Sur-veyor-general’s department was presented to the Legislative Assembly. It stated that disloyalty was rampant in the department. A flagrant breach of the regulations had enabled a coterie of officials to derive pecuniary benefit in addition to their salaries, thus securing for them advantages which were denied to officials who did not perform private work. On the recommendation of the Public Service Board the salaries of jive officers are to be reduced for certain periods.

July 10. In the Queensland Legislative Assembly My Ryan moved a want-of-confidence motion condemning the Government for not providing impartial tribunals to secure fair prices and conditions to suppliers (of what the cable does not state). The debate stands adjourned. HOBART, July 9.

The decision of the Colonial Secretary in the British Cabinet (Mr Lewis V. Harcourt) on the constitutional question which precipitated the recent crisis between the Governor and Parliament was read in the Tasmanian. Legislative Assembly. It declared that the Governor had no power to impose conditions with regard to a dissolution, and that lie must always act on the advice of his Ministers. The Assembly lias granted four months’ Supply, totalling £208,660.