FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1720, 10 April 1913, Page 8

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

TLATFORM OF AUSTRALIAN LIBERALS CONTROL OF TRUSTS. SANE ADMINISTRATION Muring (lie course of his speech at Pai ■ l'iimalta on April 1 .Mr. C'cok (Loader < i the Federal Opposition) said that tli . .Liberal policy was embodied in the fo lowing platform:— I—AUSTRALIA—WHITE—FREE ANE , FEDERAL. . ' l - hito by vigorous and systemati immigration ami settlement of our vas unsettled areas, and, where possible, i co-operation, with the States. b. i'ree from caucus or any similar coi trol hostile to liberty, whether politica social, or industrial. c. Federal by upholding the Fcdero principle of tlie Constitution, which, ii; vesting the national government with fu] control of all matters of national coi com, secures to the States full indepeni ciico in local affairs. 2.-DEFENCE. a. Australian defence, with close an effective co-operation with tho Mothe: Country and other self-governing parts o tlie Empire in maintaining the suprc nnicy of the sea. b. Tho establishment in Australia o naval dockyards, shipbuilding aud repair ing yards ancl all facilities necessary t render the Commonwealth self-reliant ii the provision of naval defence. c. Increased encouragement to rifle clubs 3—SOCIAL. a. The maintenance of old age and in valid pensions. b. National insurnnco on a contributor; basis providing for sickness, accidents maternity, widowhood, and unemployment benefits, and subsidised by the Com monwealth to c.ny amount necessary ti make the benefits immoiliato and nde filiate. ■I—AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENT . FOSTERING. a. Primary and secondary industries trade, and all sources of production. .b. Voluntary co-operdtion in productioi and distribution. i c. Imperial reciprocity by preference. <1. Co-operation with the States in th< conservation and control of the waters o; the Murray, Rivor for tho purpose of irrigation and navigation. FISCAL QUESTION. The policy of the present - Commonwealth tariff as determined by tho elector: to be maintained. A permanent non-political body to b( constituted, having statutory authorities (a) Supervise and report to Parliament respecting industrial production aud commercial exchange, also the working of the tariff, its operation and effect upon investment of capital, and the employment of labour in Australian industries.. (b) To make recommendations from time to time for the adjustment and revision, of tho tariff in all cases of proved necessity, with due regard to the interest; of all sections of tho community. In the meantime auy anomalies or inconsistencies that may be discovered in tho schedule of the 'present tariff are to be dealt with as -soon as practicable. 6.—INDUSTRIAL. The amendment of the Arbitration Act to reorganise find strengthen! the Arbitration Court with a view to promote expedition and efficiency and to provide for the settlement of interstate clisputes' by means o£ industrial boards representative of employers and employees; to empower tho Court, on delegation under Section. 51 _ of tl;.e Constitution, to remove such unfair conditions of employment in a State as prevent the establishment or continuance of fair conditions in .tile same industry in another State. 6.—FINANCE. (a) Efficient . Commonwealth administration oil business, methods and strict control of the expenditure of public money. . (b) Restoration of sound finance. , (c) Appointment of a supply and tender board. 7.—PUBLIC SERVICE. Equal treatment of all citizens entering or engaged in Government employment according to merit and ability,.with provision for dealing with their grievances, ajid the abolition of all political patronage in tke x'ublic Service. B.—POSTAL DEPARTMENT. Administration of the Post ' Office by permanent non-political commissioners. 9—NORTHERN TERRITORY. Vigorous developmental policy designed to attract settlement, including railways and. other means of transit. Freehold grants of limited areas to\ settlers iHtli absolute prohibition against aggregation. Land in excess of freehold limit to be granted under terminable lease only. 10.—STATE DEBTS. The consolidation and administration of Federal and State debts. 11-ELECTORAL REFORM. Redistribution of seats removed from ! Parliamentary and party manipulation, restoration of the" postal vote, and removal of unduj restriction on the liberty of the press and political associations. 12.—AGRICULTURE. Establishment of a Federal Agriculture Bureau. . , 13—TRUSTS. To control by law tho operations of trusts and combinations acting detrimentally to the interests of the public. POINTS FROM MR. COOK'S SPEECH. ' "Shortly stated, tho issue is 'the converting of our Federal Union into a unitary constitution, with 'a* view to the ultimnto socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.'" "Liberalism is more than a theory of government, it is a state of mind, an outlook as wide and comprehensive as the needs of the community. "It is a living,- growing, self-pernctual-iug organism greater than all machinery, new enough and vigorous enough to meet all the needs of the 20th century." . "To keep Australia comparatively empty is tho greatest danger, and this appears to be tho policy of the Labour Government." "Mr. O'MaUev, in Melbourne, declared that the result of the Stato immigration policy was outrageous and cruel." ."I repeat tho statement," exclaimed Mr. Cook, "that we must either people this continent, or perish." "The Labour fighting platform contains finite a number of planks put in the shop-window for show." "Under u new and sinister guise the tyranny of the olden times is again rearing its ugly head in our midst." "Liberals, sUml squarely against the referendum, which for the second lime is being submitted to the Australian people." "The people have already declared themselves satisfied wilh the present Constitution bv a thudding majority of 712,000 t-.i 183,000." "History shous that bureaucracy and centralisation have always resulted in revolution, while . local self-government has saved the nations from disaster." "Tho logical, clear, and precise document of the Constitution is sought to bo torn into ribbons by the caucus." "The Liberal's defence scheme is to fit the Australian citizens to defend Australian interests, whenever threatened." "Our Navy may always be regarded as an Australian unit of the Navy of the Empire." j ■ "Above all, wc must not leave the Dominions in danger of dismembering by one swift blow at the centre of the Empire." "I. alio wish," said Mr. Cook, "lo emphasise. the necessity for increased encouragement to our ritle club.-." "Libw-ial; did not' oppo-e Urn Old Age Pensions Act, but .enacted it."

"Wo propose to supplement the pensions by a comprehensive scheme ol national insurances." "Wo have in contemplation a comprehensive plan tor fostering cur industrial resources." "Our aim is to leave tho policy of the present tariff' intact, with a prompt rectitication of anomalies." "Ilam hopeful that an expert iuvestigalion "may lead to a substantial reduction ill the purely revenue duties." "The olio rccipo for reducing tho high cost of living is: Restoration of honest, economical, efficient government." "We are told that oil Labour's accession lo power strikes would cease, and peace ami pleiity would prevail," "The workers by this time must be bitterly disillusioned." "Industrial warfare has recbived its greatest fillip during the past three years." "On half a dozen of the'large disputes alono there lias been a sacrifice of more than ;C3,000,000 of the wage-earners' money." » "Of all proposals nothing is more likely to bring peace than the policy of cooperation and co-partnership." "Tho way Australian expenditure has leaped up is startling." "From a population of a little over millions ne are this year gathering 65} millions in revenue." "The three Labour Governments in Australia during the last three years increased their expenditure by 52 per cent." "The four Liberal Governments only increased their expenditure by 12 per cent." "Tho advent to power of tlio Labour Government signalised the beginning of a veritable saturnalia of extravagance." "To-day the principle of 'Spoils to the Victors' is in vogue from the offico boy to tho highest administrative positions in the service."