FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 13 August 1913, Page 5

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

THE OPENING DAY. PROGRAMME OF THE GOVERNMENT. (Received Last Night, 9.10 o'clock.) MELBOURNE, August 12. The Federal Parliament was opened to-day. The newly-ejected Speaker (Mr Johnson) appeared in the fully-re-stored insignia of office-wig and gown and knee breeches—with which the late Government dispensed. After feeling reference had been made by the Hon. J. Cook (Prime Minister) and others, the House carried a motion of condolence in the death of Sir William Lyne. The! Hon Mr "Cook tabled the Government's programme, which foreshadowed an electoral law amendment, with a view to purifying the rolls; the restoring of the postal vote; the modifying of the provisions of absentee voting; and the moving of restrictions on the discussion of public (questions during elections. Mr Cook declared that the rolls had been unduly inflated—so much so that the number of persons on the rolls on .May 31st was largely in excess of the whole number who were eligible for, enrolment in the Commonwealth.

The programme reiterates the In-! tention of the Government to abolish preference to Unionists in the Public Service, and to amend the conciliation and arbitration law to prohibit 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. A../revision of the tariff is promis■ed, according to the recommendations of the State Commission. The Government may make a stand on the question of reciprocal trade relations with sister Dominions, which is receiving the earnest'attention of the Government.;

T6uchihg : upon the question' of naval defence, and Imperial interests in the Pacific, the Government sug-: gests the advisability of a.conference atan early date. Communications: oni the matter are how" being addressed to the Imperial Government. Other proposals include a' scheme of national insurance on a contributory basis, embracing sicknses, accidents, maternity, widowhood, and unemployment; also a superannuation scheme for the Civil Service, a retiring allowance for the army and navy, the development of the Northern Territory, a uniform gauge for A'airt railways, a commission to manage the Postal Department, co-opera-tion with the States in connection with immigration, the amalgamatioir of the States Savings Banks, and the taking over of the public debts of the.States.