COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

Southland Times, Issue 17966, 6 March 1917, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

♦ - FEDERAL DISSOLUTION DECIDED ON. REPRESENTATION AT IMPERIAL CONFERENCE POSTPONED. (By Telegraph—Press Assni—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE. March 5. Received March 5, 5.40. p.m. In the Senate Senator Millen, VicePresident, of the Executive-Council, announced that the Federal Government had decided on a double dissolution immediately. The attempt to secure the co-operation of all parties for carrying on the war had failed, and there was no hope of an agreement. The question of delegates for the Imperial Conference had been postponed. REASONS FOR THE DECISION. UNPARALLELED VIRULENCE AND MALIGNITY. MELBOURNE, March 5. Received March 6, 10.35 p.m. The Government’s decision that both Houses should appeal to the country immediately is remarkable, inasmuch as it was generally forecasted that the Government expected the Senate to carry the extension of Parliament proposal this morning with a majority of one. Senator Millen, explaining the decision, said that from the first meeting the Government had been assailed with a virulence and malignity unparalleled in the history of the Federal Parliament. It was quite clear that there' was no hope of co-operation from the Opposition, rendering all attempts of the Government impossible. The decision necessarily involves the postponement of the departure of the delegates to the Imperial Conference. Mr Hughes will submit a full statement to the House to-morrow. Although a double dissolution is announced the constitution provides that in the present circumstances only half the Senate will go to the electors. The election will probably be held at the end of April or early in May. K.S.W. ELECTIONS. PLETHORA OF CANDIDATES. SYDNEY, March 5. Received March 5, 9.30 p.m. Two hundred and twenty-two candidates have been nominated for ninety State electorates. Five Labourites and three Nationalists are unopposed. Labour will oppose three members on active service. Independent Labourites oppose one, and Independents one.