AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 44

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

A FEDERAL DEADLOCK. (By Cable.) In the Federal House of Representatives Mr Jensen, Minister for the Navy, stated that all the electrical connections on the cruiser Brisbane at the Government dockyards at Cockatoo island had been cut. There was no clue to the author of tho deed. The Minister informed the House that he had instructed the manager of the dockyard to dismiss any employee who is a member of the I.W.W. Mr Hughes Ims given notice of the introduction of a Bill to deal with unlawful associations. Mr Austin Chapman gave notice of motion for the establishment of a National Government. A Federal deadlock has occurred through the Senate carrying an amendment to reduce the. Supply Bill by one-third. In Committee of Supply the House of Representatives voted against the request. The Senate's action is regarded as tantamount to a Government defeat, and may mean an early Federal election. Senator Nowland moved the appointment of a Royal Commission to report upon tho past administration and future policy of the Northern Territory. Mr Hughes gave notice of his intention to introduce Marriage by Troxy and Daylight Saving Bills.

In the House of Representatives Mr Hughes substituted one month for three months' supply, explaining in reply to Mr Cook, who accused him of allowing tho Senate to override the House of Representatives, that he took this action to prevent inconvenience to civil servants. The Unlawful Associations and Members Bill was read a first time. The measure is to operate for the duration of the war, and it declares tho I.W.W. to be an unlawful association.

PREMIERS IN CONFERENCE. The conference of Australian State Premiers was opened at Melbourne on the 12th in st. The Premiers' Conference discussed the financing of the States without arriving at any decision. it was resolved that dual taxation was detrimental to the Commonwealth, and that the Federal Government be requested to abandon its proposed amusement tax. It was also resolved that Mr Hughes be asked to make daylight-saving applicable to tho whole of Australia en the lines of the Tasmanian Act. The New South Wales Government has a proposal for submission to the Conference of Premiers, involving the abolition of tho state Governors. It is suggested that each State shall make its Chief Justice head of the State Executive; also that the Gover-nor-General bo invested with -powers to make a. link between the States and tho Crown. NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. In the Now South Wales Legislative Assembly during- the second reading debate on the Totalisator Bill Mr James, Minister of Education, said that if the machines were abused or badly run tho Government would take control. He expected tho revenue to amount to £400.000 a year. _ Mr Bruntnell denounced the Bill as ''an incubator for gambling." Ho said that in New Zealand women almost rushed over one another in order to get their money on. The State Government's policy includes Parliamentary government free from outside dictation, the vigorous prosecution _of the war. an amendment in the Constitution to provide fuller powers to the Federal Government, and proportional representation in the Legislative Assembly. The Premier (Mr Holman). in presenting the loan Estimates, said the receipts were £5.851,000, as against £8.250.000 spent Inst year. He estimated an all-round curtailment of the public works policy. Only essential works would be proceeded with. The "slowing down" would be carried out in such a wav as to cause the least disturbance. The Legislative Council, after making minor amendments, to which the Assembly agreed, passed the Totalisator Bill through all its stages. The Assembly has adjourned until December 27. .. In pursuance of the Government s nolicy of restricting public works, the Coonabara-bran-Bnrren Junction railway extension has been closed, tnrowino- idle 1200 men. A movement is being formed for the establishment of an Australian National Pemocrat'o Leneue throughout the country, with tho object of bringing the war to a successful end and tho betterment of wages. EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS. Both Houses of Parliament in Tasmania have massed a Bill cloiinT hotels at 6 o'clock. Tt will operate from January 1.