COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 7

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

DEFENCE AND LABOUR CONDITIONS, By Telesraph—Press Association-Copyright. Melbourne, August 24. In timo of war, 800,000 men will be liable to servo under the new Defence Act. . The Commonwealth has not sufficient rifles for this number,'but the small arms factory will be working by the end of the present year. Tbo Minister for External Affairs (Mr.. Batchelor) said that during ,this session steps would be taken to secure for the Federal Government more control of labour conditions. It would then bo .in a bettor position totako up the immigration question in a manner necessary to render Australia safo by effective occupation. . . The Labour party took only a email part in the framing of the Inderal Constitution, being.busy with State politics during the time the Federal Conventions \\ : ere held. Consequently the opportunities for Labour legislation by the Inderal Parliament are- somewhat restricted, and the party has from tiiiio to timo proposed radical alterations to . the Constitution. Baiva to amend the Constitution have to be passed by Parliament, and'then 1 submitted to a referendum of the electors in each State. They cannot como into force unless they are approval by ti majority of the electors in n majority of the States, and by a majority of all the electors voting. ■ A LIBERAL VICTORY. . (Rec. August 25, 1.10 a.m.) Melbourne, August 24. ■ The by-election fortheKooyong seat in the Federal Parliament to replace the Hon.- W. Knox, retired, resulted in the return of Sir R. "W. Best, Liberal, who badly defeated the Labour candidate. THE BUDGET. ' ' (Rec. August 24, 8.30 p.m.) . Melbourne, August 24. •Mr. Fisher will deliver the Commonwealth Budget on September 6.