FEDERAL POWERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 936, 1 October 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL POWERS.

LABOUR PARTY SEEKS WIDER ' , • SCOPE. By Telegraph—Press Association—OopyrisM. Melbourne, September 30. In the Federal House oi RepresentaMr;. Hughes (Attorney-General) introduced a Bill to ; .amend the Constitution by extending the legislative powers of the Commonwealth. :.'The Bill will give power to deal with tratle and commerce, whether 'State, inter-State, or foreign; also for the creation of provision for the regulation of trade corporations and to enable, the Commonwealth to make laws for the settlement and prevention of industrial disputes of all kinds. A further amendment gives power to deal with combination and monopolies in relation to the, production, manufacture, or supply of goods or service. With referenoe to the last clause, Mr. Hughes stated that they would be able to make laws regulating; production and distribution. It was under this power that the, Government's antitrust- legislation would be introduced. That legislation would be of ; a more far-reaching oharacter than could. be introduced at present. . If the Bill passes it will be - submitted to a referendum in April nest. THE STATES AND THEIR POWERS. (Rec. September 30, 11.5 p.m.) Melbourne, September 30. 'Speaking with reference to the Constitution Amendment Bill, the ' Prime Minister, Mr. Fisher, said it was not intended to entrench oh the powers ! of. the. States further than was necessary: to .'.benefit- the whole community. THE CABLE SUBSIDY. Melbourne, September 30. . In reply to a question in the Senate, Senator M'Gregor stated; that, the hew cablo subsidy would begin on October 1. He asked for notice of a question as to which were the papers or individuals covered by the term "Independent Press Cablo Service Association." : : '. ' ; V NAVIGATION BILL; . i ; ' Melbourne, September 30. Ini the Fedoral Senate an amendment was'carried in the Navigation Bill permitting a crow to handle a cargo or ballast a vessel where 'as sufficiency . of other 'labour is not available, ' , (Received September 30, 11.5 p.m). Melbourne, September 30. The Navigation Bill has been amend-, e'd to provide that a seaman's 'agreement in the case of Australian traders is to bo made , with the masters, "not with the owners. ''.' /'■ J .... . THE LAND TAX. Melbourne, Septomber ,30. . The House of - Representatives ( made good progress with the Land Tax Bill. In Committee a large number of Opposition • amendments', were: defeated. :'..'..",(Reoi. October 1,.1.5-a.m;) . Melbourne, September 30. In the House Representatives, Mr. Hughes, Attorney-General;' speaking on the Land Tax Bill, promised to include in, the Bill a provision that where joint owners .became owners; in severalty before the end of the year, the tax •;snail /apply 5, as if the property were subdivided: - A sub-clause was added providing that a company shall not be deemed an absentee, but that absentee shareholders ■ shall be separately assessed as absentees.