MR. COOK'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2164, 1 June 1914, Page 8

MR. COOK'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.

FEDERAL POLITICAL CRISIS PRIME MINISTER DECLINES TO BE BRAWN By Taleer&ph.—Fress Afflco.JaHoti-CopjTieiii Melbourne, May 30. Questioned in tho House, tho Prime minister (Mr. J. Cook) has declined to show his hand. In reply to Mr. Fisher's inquiry as to ■whether, in view of the Senate vote on no-preference to unionists in the Civil Service, tho Prime Minister intends to mako a statement, Mr. Cook informed tho Leader of the Opposition that he had no statement to make at present. The Primo Minister fenced, a- number of questions regarding a possible dissolution, and then changed his tactics, and showed a disposition to rush tho Postal Voting Bill through, A meeting of the Ministerial 'party has discussed tho situation, and it is ■understood that it has teen decided to defer action until the Opposition has had an opportunity, sivoiild it desire, of rejecting the Postal Bill, the debate on which has been adjourned till Wednesday. Meantime tho Ministry is preparing a case for presentation to the GovernorGeneral. Appearances indicate that tho bulk of the Labour members d® not regard the Senate's rejection «f lwm-prefereitoe with favour, though the militant section professes,to be delighted. ■ MORE FOOLERY IN FEDERAL HOUSE. j 'A COAL-SOTJTTL® JOKE. Melbourne, May go. The Prime Minister (Mr. Cook) is securing the appointment of a commission, which Mr. Fisher (Labo&r leader) endorsed, to inquire into the removal of the Speaker's notes-. Ho mejltionfe'd that among other incidents a coaisouttle had been placed in front of tlft Chairman's door, adding: "Evidently the idea was that when rushing out to a division he would fall and injure him* self."