FEDERAL POLITICS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12502, 1 April 1909, Page 3

FEDERAL POLITICS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY, MR FISHER'S SPEECH. THE DEFENCE' QUESTION. [Pbess Association— Copybight. ] Gympie, March 31., Mr Fisher, Federal Premier, in his polios speech, declared that the Dreadnought presentation scheme was not a policy at all. The Government could not justify themselves fit air if they yielded to popular clamour, because he believed the latter was on wrong lines. By the compulsory training scheme proposed the cadets would commence to train at ten years of age, and go on till twenty-one. This would entail an initial outlay of £580,000. The cost the first year .would ;be £1,200,000. and reach a maximum of £1,407,000 in the sixth year. The naval scheme proposed, in addition to threo destroyers already ordered, four ocean destroyers^ and 16 river-class destroyers. Mr fcisher foreshadowed a Commonwealth note issue and the minting^of silver coinage,which, together, would produce a revenue of -£109,000. Also an amendment of the Constitution as regarded the " new protection." He said the Federal Government would not go "on the money market on any condition whatever until si settlement was reached 1 over the State debts question.' JHe considered the appointment of a High Commissioner for Australia a necessity. Mr Fisher estimated that the naval construction . would cost £650;000 in the first year. £880,000 in the second, and £734,000 in the third. The maintenance would be £168,00 in tho first year, and £236,000 in the next.