FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13493, 12 June 1914, Page 5

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

THE DOUBLE DISSOLUTION. PREMIER'S ADVICE TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL". PRODUCTION DEMANDED. STATEMENT'BY MR. COOK. Melbourne, June 11. The Federal House and galleries were crowded when the Treasurer moved resolutions asking for three months'' supply to carry over the election. The Opposition immediately demanded that Mr. Cook inform the House of the reasons given to the GovernorGeneral for the double dissolution.

Much wrangling and an excited debate ensued,-..;Mr.. Cook promising ts> make a (Statement when supply was granted, and also announcing that the elections would be held on sth September, though this was contingent on the quick passage of supply.

The Opposition was not satisfied, and eventually Mr. Cook agreed to confer with Mr Fisher, Leader of the Opposition, and the House adjourned for four hours. On re-assembling, Mr. Cook, at thei request of Mr. Fisher, made a statement to the effect that he had advised the Governor-General to grant a double dissolution, assuring him that the requirements of the constitution had bees complied with, and that the present state of parties made Parliament udworkable. The Governor-General agreed to grant a dissolution, provided the necessary supply was obtained. Mr. W. M. Hughes resumed the debate, demanding that Mr Cook place the actual memorandum he had given the Governor-General before the House., It. was most important that the House* should have the actual" facts before iii' in-.-orderr.< toysee if-the Governor-General had been properly advised. The debate was adjourned. ~ The Labour majority in the Senate added an amendment to the Address-in-Reply amounting'to a censure of tiba Ministry iij connection .with a certain; railway, ppntracti; , Consequently the Government representatives declined to participate in the presentation of the address to the Go-vernor-General, who, accepting it from the President, omitted the usual thanks for the address. The ceremony was unique. .