THE COMMONWEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 797, 21 April 1910, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH.

MINISTERIAL CRISIS. A LABOUR CAUCUS FOR TUESDAY. Bj TelcffriDh—Press Aaßocla lion—Coo jrrlebt. (Roc. April 21, 0.50 a.m.) Melbourne, April 20. A meeting of the Federal Labour party has been called for 'Tuesday to discuss the situation and the selection of Ministers. LABOUR IS CHALLENGED BY MR. WADE. BUT PREFERS AN APPEAL TO CAESAR. (Rec. April 20, 8.30 p.m.) Sydney, April 20. In the State Assembly, tho Premier, Mr. C. G. Wade, challenged Mr. M'Gowen, the State Labour Leader, to table a motion of censure on the Government •Mr. M'Gowen; in reply, declared that his party desired that the next censure motion against the Government should be determined not by Parliament but by the peopta. THE NEW MINISTERS—WHO WILL THEY BE? AND/WHAT WILL THEY OFFER? ■ A Melbourne "message in the "Sydney Morning Herald" discusses the question of what the personnel of the new Australian Labour Ministry will be. The write thinks the'readiest clue is to ecaa the names of the last Labour Ministry (which, in the same. relation, were printed in yesterday's Dominion). Having reprinted the names, noting at the same time that the Honorary Minister (Mr. James Hutchison) has since died, the writer goes on to 6ay— . ■ One Ex-Mlnistcr Unpopular. The new Ministry, no doubt, will be somewhat, similar to the old. . There may, however, be a slight alteration, as the Ministers are.seleoted by the caucus. It is an open secret. that Mr. Mahon, when in offica and since then, made several bad friends among those who selected him for a portfolio. . Should he not be chosen, the probability is that Mr. Fraser,. of Western Australia, will be_ the ■ favoured one. During last session this energetic young politician earned much kudos by his untiring efforts in the Opposition, and many of the plots laid to upset the Government originated with him. Mr Hutchison's place as honorary Minister will also have to be filled. No doubt the Senators will make a big effort to havo. tho position in their House., Other Posts,

Apart from the portfolios, there are other position? Ic be hiid. such as the offices of President and Speaker and Chairmen of Committees. For the former position Senator Pcarce has first claim, if he does not choose to retnrn to the Defence Department, where he made a marked, impression during his brief-reign.:, It is well known that the Western. Australian. Senator is very keen on military work, and no doubt he would like. _to return to tho Department to carry out some of the schemes he formulated. In that event, the question of who will be President is a very open one, as is also the ease in regard to the Chairman of Committees in the Senate. The Speakership will no doubt go to Mr. M'Donald. Another Queenslander in Mr.' Higgs is regarded ns a certainty to be the next Chairman of Committees.

Population ant! Land. It is yet too early to say what legislation -will be suggested. But a study of the Governor-General's Speech, prepared by thel'isher Ministry before it .left office, may give some indication-as to what may, .be expected., Much, was promised, but the chief points, were as follow:— "My advisers: recognise that the. effee-. tivo defence of.Australia requires a vast increase of the population, and that a comprehensive policy of immigration is urgently oalled for. But that this is impossible without increasing facilities for the settlement of a large population on the land. Deeming this matter to be one of extreme urgency,'it is proposed to bring'.forward at the earliest, possible date a measure providing for the progressive taxation of unimproved land values, which, while providing revenue, will, it is anticipated, lead to tho subdivision of largo estates, and cause extensive areas to be thrown 'open to settlement, and to offer to immigrants those inducements' which are necessary to attract them in large numbers. "In this connection, the development of the Northern Territory is considered to be of the first importance, and .the agreement 'will be submitted to Parliament with a view to an early settlement. The New Protection,

"Proposals will be submitted to you for the amendment of the Constitution to enable Parliament to protect the interests of the consumer and ensure a fair and reasonable wage.to every worker in the Commonwealth in protected and unprotected industries. This will be secured through' such, an extension of the industrial powers of the. Parliament with regard to trusts and combinations in restraint of • trade, arid to provide for'the nationalisation of monopolies. . "Consideration is being given to improving pur trade relations with Canada and other self-governing parts of theEmSire. A Bill to modify certain Customs uties in favour of Papua will 1 be placed before you. The question of the encouragement of white labour in.the pearlfishing industry, is receiving attention. Progressiva Land Tax.

The intentions of the late Labour Government in regard to a land tax are fully set out in a memorandum which accompanied the Land Tax Bill introduced by it on the opening day of last session. After dealing at length with the question of peopling Australia, the document goes on:—"The object of this Bill is to provide an effective remedy by means of a progressive land tax on unimproved values, with an exemption (except in the case of absentees) of £5000. It is confidently expected that this will operate as a substantial check on the unproductive and speculative holding of large areas, and mil vastly increase the land available for, settlement by our own people and by the immigrants whom we wish to encourage, and whom we must have if we are to develop our resources and maintain our position."

MR. COOK'S CRITICISM. NO BORROWING, NO DUTIES, BUT- - PEOMISES. ; Of. the dethroned leaders, Messrs. Deakin and Cook, the fighting speech has come from the latter. This is how Mr. Cook endeavours* to drive Labour dowu a dead-end :— "With regard to finance, wo are told (by tho Labour party) that borrowing as a policy is to be .condemned, except in certain specified, instances. There is to be no borrowing for tho naval unit. The Bill passed by the last Parliament for this purpose is to be set aside or abrogated. "Old age pensions and invalidity pensions, to which they are pledged, arc to bo developed out of revenue. "The Post Office, requring a couple of millions to put it 'straight, is to bo financed out of revenues. "Only last week Mr. Fisher said in an interview in the northern State, 'I "think it inadvisable to borrow until tho State loans are merged into a single Commonwealth stock.' "Clearly, Mr. I'isher by this statement shuts himself out from borrowing for some years ahead. Moreover, they have pledged themselves not to raiso . duties on tea, kerosene, and cotton goods. / "The position then is this, no loans, and no revenue duties. It will be quite interesting to watch finnncial developments, lifenntime, they are 'pledged to provide 'work for all, and overwork for none.' "They have won at the polls, and this time thoir supporters will bo quite entitled to require them to carry out these proposals, of which I have quoted only a very few. "Wc shall see what wo shall see. "My advice is to get on with our organisations. If this bo done, this election will prove .a blessing in disguise to tho Liberals of Australia,"