AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3754, 23 February 1926, Page 35

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEFEAT. SYDNEY, Febru.rv 17. The Government waa defeated in the Legislative Council yesterday on a clause in the Workmen’s Compensation Bill relating to the insurance of workers. Sir Allen Taylor moved that employers and firms be permitted to continue the present methods of insuring their employees. Mr A. C. Willis, for the Ministry, announced that he was not prepared to accept the amendment, which, after considerable debate, was accepted by the Council by 37 votes to 33. INDUSTRIAL UNREST. ! MELBOURNE, February 18. In the House of Representatives Mr Charlton’s amendment to tbs Crimes Bill was negatived by 33 votes to 18. The Bill was carried by a similar division. In the House of Representatives, during the debate on the second reading of the Crimes Bill, Mr M. Charlton, the Labour leader, after setting forth the view of the Labour Party, moved an amendment that the Bill be withdrawn and redrafted so as to eliminate the obnoxious clauses referring to industrial disputes, considering that such clauses are unwarrantable and an affront to the great bodies of organised Labour. The debate was adjourned. THE ABOLITION BILL. SYDNEY, February 18. In the Legislative Council Mr C. W. Oakes withdrew his motion calling for a referendum on the abolition of the House. Mr A. C. Willis announced that the Abolition Bill would be reintroduced on Tuesday next and the vote will be taken on the following day. PETITION TO THE KING. SYDNEY, February 19. A public meeting at the Town Hall protested emphatically against the Government’s proposal to abolish the Legislative Council. As the City Council objected to a petition to the King being signed at the meeting copies of the petition were made available on the footpaths outside the building, and here they were largely signed. A resolution of protest was carried. It was decided that a deputation of 1 citizens should present it to the Premier, THE CRIMES BILL AMENDED. MELBOURNE, February 19. The House of Representatives amended the Crimes Bill by a provision that the suspension of work by i.n employer should not constitute a lockout unless such suspension were unreasonable.