AUSTRALIA.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XVII, Issue 528, 23 February 1917, Page 1

AUSTRALIA.

POLICY OK NEW iIOVEHNMF.XT. OUTLINED UV Mil I TUB (1 F,S. Per Press Association—Copyright. t Austriilitui :uul N.Z. Cu'o'e Assn.) MELBOURNE. Itoh. 22. Tlio l.ihi'fals met mul approved of Hui 1 Xatiou.il ( ioveiuiuent's policy. | Peci'ii'cd 10.10 p.m.. Feb. 22m1. I When Parliiuneat icasscm'.ilcd MrJ lliitihes nmri'il a notice of motion i seeking permission to present a petition j to Ilii.' Imperial Government asking for; i lie ;,rulr.nuation of the* lift 1 of Parlia-j mei.t for six months after peace is. dri hired or until October 8, 1018. lie' I then outlined the noliey which the new . (toe-i-. orient stood for—The development of an Australian national spirit. 1 on a inundation of Imperial ideals, lo develop the policy of the late Govern- ! meiit to maintain an entirely White , Australia ; a policy to create machinery for the expeditious sett lenient of imlns-| trial disputes. Thorn would he no : alteration in the iarilf just now, lie- 1 gelding conscription he would abide hy J urge that his recognition hy the party j is likely to cost them a lot of votes at , the forthcoming elections. There is much speculation as to the duration of Parliament as the Ministry has decided , the decision of the people. It was impossible to see what the future had in store hut the electors alone could j reverse the previous decision. 'Mu', Government intended to fully carry j out its duty regarding the repatriation | of soldiers. The Commonwealtli had : already incurred a debt in connection r; t h Ihi' war of 131 millions, and the 1 obligations for the calendar year in ii .a nett ion with the war alum- would pot fall tar short of 79 millions, while for other purposes than war, including repatriation, land settlement for soldiers , mid financing the 11)17-18 wheat crop] another" 70 millions would he required, j The prohahility of floating loans in ! Britain, other than war loans, vas 1 lemote. The financial policy therefore; woald he such as circumstances im- 1 peratively demanded —.sound linanee j hot not the odious economy of reducing , i!i<' wages of the working classes, or methods of forcing men to enlist. He; regretttd that the official Labour Party, had not. joined the National Govern-, mem. hut the reason was obvious, '! he official Labour Party was no longer; master of its own actions. I Dealing with the Senate's attitude he declared that his resolution not only outlined the present position of parties ir. Parliament so far as it. affected tlu’, Imperial Conference hut. provided the only means where". iy Australia could ho t Heelively represented there. The ri spoiisihility for "maintaining such an attitude as at. present for effective lepreseiuation must rest on the shonl-, ders of the majority in the Senate j Tll K X \TIO.XA 1. GOVERNMENT SIT POUTED BY EABMEHS SVDXEV, Eel). 21. 'flic executive of the Farmers - and Settlers Association carried a motion 1 approving of the National Government's ! policy and recommend all '.tranches to. support it. COALITION MINISTRY. L LIBERALS NOT ALL SATISFIED, j (Australian and N.7J. Cable Assn.) j Received G. 30 p.m., Eeh. 2Lst. j .MELBOrRNR, Eeh. 21 j' It is freely stated that the -Liberals are not a happy family over the i Ministerial fusion. A strong section ( worn opposed to tho Coalition Ministry | and arc annoyed at being heaten on tho j question. Another disturbing factor is the selection of Sir William Trvino to I accompany Air Hughes to the Imperial j Conferenee, whore, Mr Hughes has ofheially announced: “AVo shall have a I timilar status to other representatives.” Sir William Irvine won disfavour and < sacrificed his chance of inclusion in the ] Afiuistry hy openly stating that ho is j still in favour of conscription, and hy j advocating a second referendum. , Sonm Liberals whose constituents j gave a strong anti-conscription vote , that there must ho no pandering to the ( Opposition. It is considered probable, , in the event of the Senate obstructing ( legislation, that there will ho an early appeal to the electors. LABOUR PARTY LEADEN. : Received 9.45 p.m., Feb. 21st. Air John Storey has boon ('looted to succeed Mr Durauck in the leadership j of the Caucus Labour party. lAI PETRI AL CONFERENCE, Air \V. Al. Hughes lias announced definitely that Sir John Forrest will, accompany him to the Imperial forenco. ) CENSURE MOTION. ft is anticipated that Air Tudor will move a censure motion when tho House moots. I REPATRIATION SCHEME. j - Tho now Federal Cabinet at its first ■ meeting decided to control the repa-tria- , tion scheme and appointed Senator, Milieu and three commissioners to administer the fund. X.S. WALES ELECTIONS. SOLDIER POLITICIANS. The State Parliament has boon dissolved and the writs for tho general election will bo issued on Saturday,. Polling day will be March 24. Alim'stoiinlists Intend, to do everything to secure the return.- nnopppsed, of eight' members of Parliament who, are now serving at-tho front. .