AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 131, 26 July 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL.

LABOUR MEMBERS RESIGN. Sydney, July 25. Excitement has been caused by two Labour members (Mr Dunne, of Mudgeo, and Mr Horne, of Liverpool Plains) handing in their resignations. They are unable to support the Government’s policy. This means that if the Independent Party vote with the Opposition, the Government will suffer defeat.

Mr Wade, in moving a motion ot censure, generally attacked the Government’s land policy. Justifying uis action in moving while McGowen was absent, he said his pair was made with Mr McGowen, and this restricted him from voting on divisions during i.he Premier’s absence, but the right to move motions of censure was reserved.

Mr Holman, in replying, said everyone who voted for labour at the last election knew the leasehold was the fundamental principle of their policy. They fought to beat the then Government oil tnat issue and on it decided to stand or fall.

Mr Storey, leader of the Independents, announced that bis party would vote against the Government. (Received 26, 9.50 a.m.) Sydney, July 26. In the censure debate, Mr Wade hinted that perhaps members would sooner be brought before the electors than bo judged by the House, He attacked the Government’s discontinuing resuming large estate, emphasising the existence of land hunger. He stated that recently there were sixteen hundred applicants for four blocks thrown open for selection. Mr Holman, in reply, declared that the Government would have been deserving censure ii it wasted money •in resumptions when, it could be better spent on railways and opening up Crown lands suitable for settlement. Toe Crown had twenty-six million ■icres which were ready for settlement, as soon as the special board’s reports as to classifying and valuing were available; , Mi- Storey moved an addition to the motion: “That the proposal to include rural workers within the provision of the Industrial Bill is against the interest of land settlement. Two Independents notified their intention of voting with the Government on the censure motion, but would vote against the repeal of the Conversion Act when before the House. Later the Government received a surprise when Messrs Horne and ; Hunu, country Labour members, announced their resignation, as they were unable to conscientiously respond | to the -do am mis oi the party on the bind question. Both stated that they aid not intend to offer themselves for re-election : they also had paired with 1 ■! on the censure motion.