AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2481, 25 March 1893, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Sydney, March 23, In the Legislative Assembly last night the Estimates were under discussion. Several reductions were made in salaries, including those of the President of the Legislative Council to £IOOO, and of the Speaker of the House to £I3OO. Sir G. R. Dibba, the Premier, tendered his resignation as a member of the House to the Speaker this evening, explaining that he was compelled to take this step for financial reasons. Mr Barton, in moving that the seat (Murrumbidgee) be declared vacant, stated that Sir G. R. Bibbs had not been allowed time to satisfy a judgment which had been oL tained against him, consequently he had filed his schedule in order to protect his other creditors. He announced that Sir George would continue to act as Premier, and would seek re-election for Murrumbidgee as soon as the necessary formalities war© arranged. Sir Henry Parkes and Mr J. H. Reid expressed sympathy with the Premier in the position in which ho was placed. Sir J. W. Downer, the Premier, has announced the policy of the Government. He advocated intercolonial freetrade, and said that the Government were communicating with the New South Wales and Queensland Governments on the matter. Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand, be said, had already expressed their willingness to accept it. The Government favored the continuation of the butter bonus, and the establishment of a depot in London for the safe of the colony’s wine. Among the Bills promised were those dealing with shops and factories and conciliation. The Government will assist the exportation of fruit, but will leave women’s suffrage an open question for the present. The declined to bring in an Early Closing Bill, or to reduce the Legislative Council qualification to £lfi, but were agreeable to create a Laboif Department.