FEDERAL POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 7 September 1911, Page 6

FEDERAL POLITICS.

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright United Press Association. Melbourne, September 3, In the 111 u> J of licpresent.it’*’<s during the debate on the Address-in-Raply, Mr Donkin warmly deprecated tlie talk of separation. To break away from the Empire would mean to break from the Empire treaties which were most important to the dominions. He was convinced that the greater the danger, the greater appeal it would make to Australia, and the warmer the response. He saddled the Government with f the responsibility of the sugar strike. If the Government had appointed a commission to enquire into the industry there would have been no strike. Mr Fisher, replying, accepted the responsibility of not appointing a sugar commission. He thought it j would have been mischievous, but the time had now arrived to hold an en- I quiry into the whole industry. Ho was hopeful of good results from negotiations in regard to reciprocal trade with other countries. No limit, it appeared to him, should exist, in ! reciprocity between New Zealand and | Australia. The former’s destinies 1 were so closely linked with those of 1 Australia. j A noticeable feature at the opening 'of the Federal Parliament was the ' disappearance of the mace. The Sergeant-at-Arms was also deprived of I knee breeches, which were replaced by the regulation nether garments. The clerks in Parliament appeared without wigs. In the Senate the usher of the black rod carried no sword. The Speaker stated that the changes had been made oh his authority. (Received 7. 10.15 a.m.) Melbourne, September 7. In the House of Representatives Mr Fisher denied that any member of the Government desired to break away from the Mother Country. In reference to the sugar industry, lie declared the'fo was better distribution of profits; they wanted also protection for consumers.