FEDERAL POLITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14322, 12 October 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. RUMOURS OF RETIREMENT. LORD DUDLEY DENIES THEM. SYDNEY, Oct. 11. • Speaking at Manchester Unity Century banquet, Earl Dudley, GovernorGeneral of Australia, referred to certain reports which had been persistently circulated regarding his conduct and intentions. He had heard t'hese "e----ports with most profound amazement. Some wandering critic had' reported that Australians were lacking in imagination. but evidently a few possessed a most remarkably vivid imagination, for never did any one set to work to ooncoct a story with less fact to build upon than the people who invented those extraordinary yarns. ' He did not intend to worry in the slightest degree about them. As to the rumours of his resignation, he had nothing to say. Whether he remained in office the full period or not, he knew no reason whatever which might cause his abrupt departure in the near future. So far as he was aware, a!ll the stories about his suocessor being already appointed were pure moonshine, unless, indeed, the policy of providing understudies for leading gentlemen had been re-"-■•iy adopted by the Home authori-

A FEDERAL ACT TESTED.' 1 "AND DECLARED INVALID. MELBOURNE, Oct, Oct. 11. Tho High Court delivered judgment oil a question raised in the boot trade dispute by the boot manufacturers that tlie Commonwealth Arbitration Act was unconstitutional and beyond the power of Parliament, in bo far as it purposed to empower the Court to mako a common rule. The Court unanimously decided that the Act was invalid on the grounds raised, and refused the common rule. Received 12.5 a.m., Oct. 12th. AUSTRALIAN NAVY. The Senate read the Naval Defence Bill a first time, and the Trust Fund Advances Bill a third time. The Naval Defence Bill empowers the Governor to appoint a, board of administration. The naval force is to he divided into two branches, permanent and citizen naval forces, to be raised and kept up by volunteer. enlistment only. SUNDAY MAILS. The Postmaster-General told a deputation that he favoured time and a half pay for Sunday postal work.