AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 45

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

(By Gable.) t THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. \ MELBOURNE, March 4. f In the Federal House of Representative* / Mr M'Williams, leader of the Country, Party, gave notice of his intention to more that the amount voted for Supply be reduced by one-half. Mr Tudor, Labour leader, moved * motion of censure on the Government for its failure to deal with profiteering, and for its injudicious expenditure in .the control of snipping, wheat, and other pro- ; ducts. . The development of a serious crisis depends on whether the Ministry accepts Mr M'Williams's amendment. If the Govern-; ment decides to fight the issue it "will" probablybe defeated, as Labour will support the Country Party. . if? hj '-. ..., • . . March 5. In the House of Representatives' Mr Hughes made a spirited reply to the vote of censure and Mr Tudor's'attack on the Government's administration. He said the Government was challenged by a party which came from the people dishevelled and discredited, whose policy had been, deliberately and unreservedly repudiated by the people, and who" therefore had no right to challenge the Government. He demanded an opportunity to give effect to the Government's fully-endorsed policy. Mr Tudor's no-confidence motion was defeated. • . - • March 6. In the voting on the censure motion the Country Party supported the Ministry. A new political party named the MiddleClass • Party has been formed with the object of protecting the rights of the middle classes, and reducing the cost oi living. . y COMMONWEALTH'S WAR. DEBT. MELBOURNE, March 5. In the Federal House of Representatives Mr Hughes announced that Mr Watt • (Treasurer) was going to England to deal with the debt of £388,750,000 (sic), for which the War Office is pressing for early repayment. Mr Watt will also represent the commonwealth in the Imptrial Cabinet in connection with the German indemnity and the mandate for the Pacific Islands. . LABOUR CANDIDATE'S "JOKE." SYDNEY, March 5. Mr Storey, Leader of the New South Wales Labour has strongly repudiated the statement recently made by Mr Minahan, a Labour candidate at the elections, . that the Australian Labour Party was cognisant of a movement to defeat conscription and proclaim a republic in Australia. Mr Storey declared: "The Labour ; Party, either as a parliamentary party or an ontside organisation, had no part in any such idea or scheme, nor did it ever hear of it. Mr Minahan's little joke is too absurd."