THE FEDERAL MINISTRY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7766, 25 July 1903, Page 5

THE FEDERAL MINISTRY

A SPLIT IN THE GABINE*. RESIGNATION Of Mft KINGSTON; UiliUd Prws Asfeociilion— By Eftfctfic Tole^faph-^Copyfight. - (Received July 215, 10.49 a.m.) MELSOtJRNE, July 25. The resignation of •Mr Kingston has created a sensation. / N6body ire or out of Pafiiament suspected ttiat a dangefdus difference of opinion existed in the Cabinet. From cdrreMpohdence tabled in the House of Representatives it appears that Mr Kingston forwarded his resignation to Sir E. Barton on July 23. Sir E; Bartoti> oh asking him to reconsider it, pointed out the momentous value of the Arbitration Billj and asked him to waive" the point be had raised, and give consideration to the views of his colleagues as well as his owhi Replying* Mr Kingston said that industrial legislation had long been the dearest object of fca hem Shorn of its application fco seame'h df dheap cre^s> hot Australian, which invade quf coastal trade 2 the Conciliation Bill would be a mockery, for which it would be idle to expect earnest support, and with which he could not be associated. In a further appeal to Mr Kingston nbt to resign, Sir E. Barton pointed out that it was intended, to introduce a Navigation Bill, in which Mr Kingston's views. would be met, but Mr Kingston remained firhi. In the course of a speech in the House, after his resignation bad been announced, Mr Kingston said i^—^he posltibm to-day with regard to shipping hangs oft a single thread. No Federal conciliation law would be worth the! name which did hot pf Ovide for ih© settlement of the disputfe between ihdse engaged in the coastal trade; The Australian shipowner is 'carrying oh business under circumstances under^ which he pays double wages to tha§6 paid by others". Not long ago li§ had* informed the representatives bi the shipping industry that we could hot introduce navigation law at this time, but that the Conciliation Bill, in some measure, would deal with the matter. ;' MY M'Dohaid, oh behalf of the Labour Partft-cdiigratula'ted Mr Kingston on th 6 inikniy, straightforward step he had takeri; The newspapers and public men praise the high principle which induced Mr Kingston to resign, and refer to him in complimentary terms as a strong and feari&Ss legislator. So far as can be gathered it appears that the trouble arose over Mr Kingston pressing the necessity of embodying his views in the Bill, because the agreement between the steamship owners and the Seamen's Union With regard to Wages ■expires in November, and the former as* serted that owing to foreign competition they could hot afford to continue paying the present wages. Mr Kingston's ide« was to avert trouble.