VICTORIAN POLITICO.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1814, 22 July 1891, Page 5

VICTORIAN POLITICO.

The discussion of the federation question has been continued in the Legislative Assembly of Victoria during the past week, and it was resumed on July 7. The greatest opponent to the general scheme which has been propounded appears to be Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, who has urged that unconstitutional methods are being adopted in getting the draft Constitution Bill passed through the House. He moved that the consideration of the question should be deferred until plural votingnasbeenabolished, but this proposal was at once disposed of in the negative. The subject will to-day be taken up in the Legislative Council, and there is little doubt that the whole scheme will receive the sanction of both Houses. If the federation cause was as secure in the j , ether colonies as it is in Victoria there < would soon be a dominion Parliament. The way in which the manhood suffrage rolls of Victoria have been added to recently shows that the Labor party is going to make a big fight for special representation during the ensuing general elections. The total number of voters appearing on the general or manhood suffrage rolls of last year was 29,469, and this has now been increased by 5,311, making a total of 34,780. In tho Collingwood electorate the number of names on the general roll was almost doubled. With a view of counteracting the united action of the Labor party to secure class representation, a National Association has been started in Melbourne. The objects of the Association are stated to be as follows :—: — "1. To preserve the national character of the .Legislature, the Association affirming that representatives should not be the delegates of any section of society. 2. To oppose all unconstitutional political procedure, and thereby assist in maintaining law and order, and particularly to secure the effectual protection of all persons engaged in honest industry.- 3. To assert and defend the right of every person in the community to dispose of his labor or capital with perfect freedom within the law. 4. To prevent undue interference with the great producing interests of the colony, to encourage cooperation and good feelingamongstall classes, to further to the utmost the development of the agricultural, pastoral, mining, and manufacturing interests, and to vigorously oppose all class legislation injurious thereto, 5. To promote in all ways peace, security, and general confidence, in order that the public credit may be sustained and the investment of capital encouraged, that a maximum of employment may be provided, and that all interests may share in a common prosperity. 6. To uphold a just balance of electoral representation, giving proper weight to the claims of country districts, upon the progress of which national life greatly depends. 7. To secure the due registration of parliamentary electors, and the regular and systematic revision of the electoral rolls." The revenue returns of the financial year just ended have fallen off considerably, and there has also been unlooked for expenditure on the railways, so that notwithstanding the economical course which has been followed by the Treasurer (Mr Nimmo) since he has come into office he finds it a very difficult matter to make ends meet. The action of Mr Gillies while he was in office of obtaining authority for expenditure which is to be recouped by the sale of the Kew lunatic asylum reserve and other lands causes additional embarrassment to the present Treasurer. The sum of L 600.000 has to be provided for expenditure which has taken place in anticipation of " recoups," and altogether Mr Munro finds himself called upon to raise a million of money. Some additional taxation, therefore, seems inevitable.