AUSTRALIAN POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1471, 20 June 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLICY.

PARLIAMENT OPENS

BONUS FOR NATIVE-BORN BABIES.

LABOUR CABINETS PLANS.

Or Toleeraph—Press Association—Copyrlebl (Rec. June 19, 9.20 p.m.) Melbourne, June 19. The Federal Parliament was opened to day by tho Governor-General, Lord Denman.

The Governor-General's Speech referred to the prospects of a continuance of prosperity and the marked iucreaso in immigration.

Dealing with the proposed maternity grant of £.j for every baby registered, his Excellency said his advisers were unablo to regard the natural iucrcaso of population in tho Commonwealth- otherwiso than with tho deepest concern. Tho death rate was too high, nearly 9000 children having died in the last year under tho age of one year. Many of these deaths were from preventable onuses. Men and women were tho best asset of tho nation, and the proposed grant wns in recognition of this fact.

It was proposed again to ask the people to approve of alterations in the Constitution enabling Parliament to legislate effectively ngoinst trusts, combines, and monopolies, and to extend tho powers regarding industrial matters.

Tho Government had agreed to request tho Admiralty to reduce the Australian squadron by the Teturn of tho secondclass cruiser Challenger and two first-class (.'■third class) crilisers.

The Government was anxious to cheapen cable communication with the Old World and was still urging' the laying of a state-owned Atlantic cable. It was also co-operating with the other parties to the Pacific cable agreement in introducing deferred and other cheaper forms of cablegrams. The development of the wireless telegraphy system would bo pushed on with immediately.

Tho Bills promised included a Navigation Act Amending Bill, and Old Ago Pensions, Trade Marks, and Customs Bill's. The debate on the Addres*-in-lteply was opened, and both Houses then adjourned. At a meeting- of the Opposition, Mr. Dea-re-elected to the leadership. It was decided to move an amendment to the Addreis-in-Reply, but its terms have not been stated.