MR FISHER'S PROGRAMME.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12771, 18 April 1910, Page 3

MR FISHER'S PROGRAMME.

APPRECIATIVE REFERENCES IN LONDON. (Received April 17, 5 P'-m-V London, April 16. "The Times," and the "Economist," dealing with the Australian elections; have friendly and appreciative leaders on Mr Fisher's programme. THE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. *•*** — : — (Special to "The Colonist.") Ohristcnurch, April 17. Mr. A. Dale, an Australian now resident in New Zealand, who -eceatly visited Australia and had convonations with the leaders of the Federal Labour Party, gave a represents sive ,of the "Press" some interesting information as to the measures that tie new Federal Government is likely to promote. Mr Dale was secretary of Mr Fisher's committee when he v*.-s first returned to the Federal Hoise. As to the constitution of the Ministry, Mr Dale was of opinion that it- .^ould be comprised chiefly of the men who held office in the last Labour Ministry. Mr Fisher will be Prime -Minister, Mr F. Tudor (Victoria), Minister of Customs; Senator McGregor wili be the leader of the Government in the Senate ; Senator Pearce will probably take up the portfolio of, Defence; Mr McDonald (Queensland) will likely' 'have the refusal of the Speakership of the House, while Mr Mahon (Western Australia) will be Postmaster-General. The first, or one of the first measures introduced will possibly be > a measure providing for a progressive land tax, a question that was one of the main planks of the Labour party s election platform. It is highly probably, according to Mr Dale, that ".e new Federal Government will deal finally with the question of the site of the Federal capital, though it was due to the fact that Mr Fisher call-id for a vote on the question of YassCamberra, and the Dalgety site that the first named was decided upon, lt was recognised at the time that the decision was forced upon the Federal Government by the press of Sydney. From information af present available Mr Dale thinks it likely that the previous decision will be reversed, avd that Dalgety will be finally selected. The question of the Federal Government taking over complete control of the Northern Territory is also likely to be definitely settled, mainly on the grounds that it is necessary to do so for defence purposes. As to the ecn.pletion, .of the . trans-continental milways,;Mr Dale thinks that it is likely that the new Federal Government vill adopt' Lord Kitchener's advice, and will construct them, not so much as commercial undertakings, but as'necessary from the point of view of tie defehce^of the Commonwealth. 4s to labour laws, he is of opinion that legislation will be introduced providing for a Federal tribunal tb decide labour disputes, though the present Wages Boards will be continued to deal w»*th matters that affect the workers cnly in one State.