FEDERAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13645, 13 July 1908, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS

COMMONWEALTH V. STATES.

LABOUR PARTY'S PLATFORM.

Ptt'ess AssofeUttion-By Telegraph-Copyright July 11

The Labour < Conference has concluded. It approved of a scheme as a, basis for the afl/rstmenli of ilie i financial relations between Commonwealth - and State: This provides that a portion of the. revenue allocated to the Commonwealth must be sufficient- to' cover all existing' expenditure, apart from" reproductive services. Itmust cover old age and invalid throughout the Commonwealth, and also an additional sum, not exceeding £1,000,000,' to m«t the expanding necessities of the' Commonwealtih Government, such : as the'creation of a Federal capital, railway undertakings, development of the northern'territory, the amounts to be returned to the Siaties to be fixed on a .per capita b:.sis, with a further -capitalisation- allowance to West Australia, gradually diminishing to the level of other States owing to the exceptional position of West Australia. The amended fighting" plat form adopted contains the following nine planks:-—Maintenance of a White Australia, ' the new protection, 1 iiationalisatloii "of monopolies, a graduated tax on unimproved .land values, a .citizen defence force, a Commonwealth bank, restriction of pub lie borrowing,, navigation laws, and Arbitration Act amendment. ' :

A resolution was carried , expressing sorrow at Mr Waftson's. retirement from poli' tics, and appreciation of lils great services to the labour movenrent.