FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 15119, 13 August 1913, Page 7

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

FIRST MEETING OPENED. NEW GOVERNMENT'S PRO- , ..* GRAMME. Press Association—By Tel. —Copyright: Received 8.11 p.m., Aug. 12th. 'MELBOURNE, Aug. ,12. The Federal Parliament was opened to-day. The newly elected Speaker, Mr Johnson, appeared'in-the fully restored insignia- of his office,* wig, -'gown,- tind knee breeches, with ; which the late Government dispensed. After feeling references by Mr Cook and others, the House carried a motion of condolence for the death oi Sir William Lyne. Mr Cook tabled the Government's programme, which foreshadows electoral law amendment, with a view to .purifying the rolls, restoring the jostal vote,- modifying the privisions of absentee voting, and removing restrictions on discussion of public questions during.elections. . It is declared that the rolls have been unduly inflated, so much so that the number of persons on the rolls at 31st May was largley in excess of the whole number eligible for enrolment in the Commonwealth. The Cabinet reiterates its intention to abolish preference to unionists in the public service, and to amend the Conciliation and Arbitration law to dpohibit" preference being granted by the Court to a member of any organisation whose funds are directly or indirectly applicable to political purposes, and to restore the exemption of rural workers from the operation of the Act. The; Government intends to maintain the accepted protective policy, but revision'of the tariff is promised, according to the < recommendations of the recently appointed Interstate Comr mission: The question of reciprocal trade" relations with sister Dominions is -receiving earnest attention. /Touching naval defence and Imperial interests in the Pacific, the" programme suggests the advisability of a conference at,an early date.- Communications on the matter are now being addressed to the Imperial Government. Other proposals include a scheme of national insurance on a contributory basis, embracing sickness, accident, maternity, widowhood, and unemployment; also a superannuation scheme for the civil service, and retiring allowances for the Army and 'Navy. The development of the Northern Territory, uniform gauge of main railways, a. commission to manage the postal department, co-operation with the States in connection with immigration,' amalgamation of the Commonwealth and State! Savings .Banks, and taking over the public debts of the States.