AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8265, 19 October 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

LABOUR CONDITIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO. Received October 18, 9.47 a.m. SYDNEY, October 18. The Master Builders' Association has received advices from San Francisco which indicate tbaf the existing labour.oouditions do not warrant workmen going there. The city is suffering from the attitude of the Trades Unions, who are obstructing rather than helping in its re-con-; struotion. Wages have been advanced ' to a very high figure, and further advances are continually being asked. HOME RULE. Received October 18, 9.47 a.m. SYDNEY, October 18. It is estimated that as a result of the tour of ihe Irish envoys in Australasia .£15,000 will be raised to aid the Home Rule campaign. MR DEAKIV3 POLIOY. Received October 18, 9.13 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 18. Mr Deakin, the Federal Premier, .speaking at fiailarat last night, announced that; be appeared as a liberal Protectionist. His party had now resumed the position of an absolutely independent party. He eulogised Mr Watson, the leader of the for the support accorded to the Ministerial programme in the last Parliament. With the men in Parliament it had been possible to work, but with the maeh'ne outsidu it was not possible. The difficulty arose not with the men wbo handled public affairs, but with those who wanted to them. 'lho policy of his party'would be progressive. Au an Mr Reid's anti-Socialist party was intended, and it was proposed to advance the iron industry by bounties, duties, and other means. The measures to be submitted included the Navigation Bill, and banking and insurance laws. Efforts would also ba made to induce immigration if the States would give land. Generally speaking, bis polioy of 1903, gwhich was repeated in 1905, was to be oarried out. Tbe Government made no proposal to impose land taxation in addition to that already existing in the States. The latter were entitled gto exhaust all their powers, and although he would welcome one federalised tax,he saw no early possibility of its achievement. In answer to a question, Mr Deakin affirmed that members of the Labour party were under the control of organisations which he believed were a danger to the community. °