FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXIX, Issue 12111, 4 July 1903, Page 3

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

LABOUR 6n MAIL STEAMERS. United Press • Association —Per Electric '' ' . Telegraph—Copyright. Received 10.34 a.m., July 3rd. MELBOURNE, July 3. j, . Despatches dealing with the negotiations between Sir E. Barton and Mr Chamberlain in regard to the carriage of mails, have been laid on the table of the Federal .House. Sir E. Barton, in his despatch, requested that notice be given that at the termination of the present contracts there would be no coloured labour, a faster speed, and a lower subsidy, also better provision for'cold storage. He warned tenderers that the new navigation legislation would probably compel owners of steamers to pay the Australian rate of wages whilst on the coast. Mr Chamberlain, who was unable to agree with the white labour clause, gave notice of the termination of the agreement. Unless the labour condition was modified, it would be necessary to abandon the idea of a joint arrangement for the carriage of mails. He was sorry the recent legislation of Australia made it impossible for the Home Government to be associated in future with the Commonwealth in mail contracts. The obligations to the Empire's Indian subjects precluded them agreeing to the exclusion of mail steamers solely on the ground of colour. The Imperial Government would now have to make their own arrangements for the carriage of mails, and he asked whether the Act prohibited the placing of homeward mails on board vessels with coloured crews. Received 1 a.m., July 4th. In the Senate >lr Higgs. moved a resolution condemning the State Governor of Victoria for unwarrantable .interference in Federal polities' by .supporting the naval subsidy in the course of a lecture. He also condemned Sir J. Forrest, Minister of Defence, for seconding the vote of-thanks to the Governor on that occasion. . The debate was adjourned.