FEDERAL POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3655, 1 April 1924, Page 19

FEDERAL POLITICS

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. MELBOURNE, March 26

At a meeting of Nationalists Mr Bruce said he was very satisfied with the way in which the party had worked with the Country Party during the past year, lie added that he had every hope that an agreement would shortly be reached between the two parties, and that they would overcome all difficulties before the next election. It is understood that there is almost a complete agreement upon the general points for a common election policy. Mr Bruce announced that a Bill would be introduced after the Easter adjournment in the House asking authority to add two modern light cruisers t-o th£ Australian Navy, one of wlv'ch will probably be built at Cockatoo Island.

The party passed a resolution congratulating Mr Bruce on his efforts at the Imperial Conference. A meeting of the Country Party discussed Mr Bruce’s work at the Imperial Conference, and expressed satisfaction at the magnificent way in which he had represented Australia. PARLIAMENT OPENS. March 26. When the House of Representatives met Mr Bruce moved the adjournment as a mark of regret at the death and appreciation of the services of the late Senator Millen. He and Mr M. Charlton (the Labour leader) paid tributes to the late Senator Millen.

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCES, March 27.

Before a crowded House Mr Bruce made a lengthy statement covering his mission to and his work at the Imperial and Economic Conferences, having previously supplied members with copies of the resolutions carried at these conferences.

The speech largely retraced the matters already published. Mr Bruce said that his task had been made easier by reason of the greatly increased publicity obtained for the proceedings of the conferences, which must meet with general approval, as such conferences could only achieve their full effect when the deliberations were known to and understood by the peoples of the various countries concerned and supported by a well-informed public opinion in those countries. The Imperial Conference was now accepted by all who had had an opportunity of judging as a satisfactory method of solving the very intricate and difficult problems relating to the Empire. He said emphatically that the best interests of Australia would be served by acting in co-operation with the rest of the Empire and bearing her fair share of the burden of Empire defence. Dealing with the abandonment of the Singapore base, Mr Bruce stressed the gravity of the national situation in regard to defence. He re affirmed the proposed construction of two cruisers and indicated that other defence proposals would be submitted. MR CHARLTON’S AMENDMENT. Mr Bruce’s speech occupied three hours. It was the intention of the Government at its close to have moved a series of resolutions oftering a number of principles regarding the decis ; ons of the Imperial and Economic Conferences, and then to have adjourned to give Mr Charlton, Leader of the Opposition, an opportunity of dealing with them to-morrow. Mr Charlton, however, sprang a surprise. He asked that the resolutions be put separately. Mr Bruce objected to this course. Ur Charlton thereupon proposed an amendment asking the House to affirm its agreement with the policy of the British Government just adopted by the House of Commons, and one which lie said was calculated to produce goodwill among the nations Mr Charlton intimated that the Labour Party attached no importance to the resolutions adopted in London. They bad been of no service to Australia, and the result had justified the stand taken by the party before Mr Bruce’s departure against the suspension of the session's work.

The House was taken by surprise, and when Mr Charlton sat down there was an awkward pause before the amendment was seconded.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS

MELBOURNE, March 28 tn the House of Representatives Mr Bruce submitted the following resolutions:—“That this House approves of the conclusions of the Imperial Conference relating to foreign relations, negotiations, signatures, and ratifications of treaties and defence, and that the House approves of the resolutions of the Economic Committee referring to the necessity of Australia boin.r consulted regarding British foreign policy. 0 Mr Bruce said he had insisted at the conference upon Australia having this right, as from the experience of the late war he realised that out of foreign policy wars were bred, and when Britain was at war Australia was inevitably involved Australia was determined never again lo be cast into the hideous vortex of war as the result of a policy in which she liad no part. Mr Bruce asked members to say whether in adopting this attitude ha was truly representing the view of the majority of the Australian people. Mr Bruce thought the basic principles governing the Empire’s foreign policy which were agreed to at the conference were acceptable to Parliament and the people of Australia. In conclusion, he told Mr Charlton, Leader of the Labour Opposition, that he had no objection to the resolution being put separately provided that there was only one general debate. Mr Charlton refused this and spoke for only a few minutes, summing up the whole mission as a failure, and not worth dis-

cussing, lie then moved an amendment asking the House to affirm its agreement with the policy of the British Government just adopted Ly the House of Commons, and one which he said was calculated to produce goodwill among the nations.

During the pause that followed Dr Earle Page spoke to the amendment, not seconding it, as a desperate resort in a perplexing situation. After second : ng Mr Bruce's resolutions, he taunted the Opposition with being afraid to express its views on defence, and sa : d that an effort was being made to brush aside the most important issues that the House had ever faced. He concluded by urging the Labour Party to reconsider its attitude. The House then adjourned. Mr Charlton’s action is bitterly resented. The Ministerialists regard it as an attempt to humiliate Mr Brace. At the same time, it is realised that Mr Bruce placed the Labour Party in a difficult position by asking it to declare itself with regard to fore'gn relations, defence, and Imperial Preference. The Senate discussed the conference’s resolutions. Senator Newlands gave notice of motion that the battleship Australia should not be sunk, but so altered as to make her permanently unseaworthy and convertible into a war museum. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS. MELBOURNE, March 28. In the House of Representatives there was a further discussion on Mr S. JVi. Bruce’s Imperial Conference resolutions, after which the House adjourned till Tuesday. March 29. In the Senate Senator Gardiner moved an amendment to the Imperial Conference resolutions similar to that moved in the House of Representatives. The debate is unfinished and has been adjourned. In the House of Representatives the Labour members did not take part in the debate on Mr S. M. Bruce’s resolutions, the discussion being confined to Ministerialists. THE BATTLESHIP AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, March 29. Mr Bowden has announced his decision to sink the battleship Australia as irrevocable. The question would not be submitted to a vote of Parliament as suggested by some members.