HUGHES CANNOT GO TO LONDON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3020, 6 March 1917, Page 5

HUGHES CANNOT GO TO LONDON

I I DOUBLE DISSOLUTION IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPT TO CARRY ON FAILS (By Tclcsraph-Prcss Associaliou-Copyrizlrt (Itco. March 5, 5.30 p.m.) Melbourne, March 5. Senator MiTlcn, speaking in the Senate, aiiuouuccd that tho Federal Government had decided on a. doublo dissolution immediately. The attempt to secure tho co-operatioii of all parties in carrying on the. war lad failed.. Thoro was no hope'of 'agreement, and the delegation to the Imperial Conference had hecn postponed.-—Press Assn. A REMARKABLE decision. (ilee. March o, 10.35 p.m.) Melbourne, March 5. The Government's decision that both Houses shall appeal to the country immediately is remarkable, inasmuch as it was generally forecasted that the Government expected tho Senate to carry the extension-of Parliament proposal this morning with a majority of one. ' .''■■■■' Senator Milieu, explaining the Government's decision, said that from ths first meeting the Government had been assailed with, a virulence and malignity unparalleled in. the history of the Federal Parliament, and it became quits clear that there was no hope of cooperation from tho Opposition, which was rendering all attempts at government impossible. Tho decision wil| necessarily involve the postponement of the departure of tho delegation to the Imperial Conference. Mr. Hughes-will submit a full statement to the House to-morrow. Although a double dissolution has been announced, the, Constitution provides that in the present circumstances only half the Senate will go to the electors. Tho elections will probably he held at : the end of April or early in Msy. UNUTTERABLE CONTEMPT FOR THE OBSTRUCTIONISTS WHAT THE RETURNED SOLDIERS THINK ABOUT IT. (Rcc. March 5, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, March 5. The Returned Soldiers' League, at its first annual congress, representing twenty thousand men, carried a motion deploring the result of the referendum, and recorded its "unutterable contempt for those public men who, by. misrepresentation and lies, were responsible for the national degradation of Australia in the eyes of tho fighting nations." It was further resolved to urge Mr. Hughes to close the stadiums and racecourses immediately. ' CORRUPTION CHARGES BREAK DOWN A DIFFERENT STORY Melbourne, March 5, In the Senate, Senator Pearce, re*, plying to Senator Watson's chargesdetailed a-conversation with Senator Watson, and said the latter assured him ho would like to be ivith the Hughes Party, and the only reason lie was not was that ho feared that if he took the step he could no longer, live where he was now living,. because the lives of himself and family would be made a hell on earth. In the course of his reply to Senator i Watson's charges, Mr. .Hughes stated J that tlie Caucus Party, duringthe coni scription referendum, asked him to to the Labour organisations and obtain a free hand for them, and enablo the Caucus Party to supporthim. • Mr. Tudor's motion in tho House asking for a Royal CpmmissioE was negatived by 35 votes to 18. The motion for tho postponement of the elections was carried in tho Fedoral House by 34 votes to 17. NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTIONS 222 CANDIDATES FOR 90 SEATS 1 (Rec. March 5, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, March 5. Two hundred and twenty-two candidates havo been nominated for the 90 State electorates. Five Labourites and three Nationalists are unopposed. Labour will oppose three of the present members now on active service. There is ono Independent Labonrite, and one. Independent. LIBEL ACTION AGAINST THE "AGE." (R-ec. March 5, 9.20 pjn.) ; Melbourne, March 6. Senator Givens has issued a writ against the proprietors of the "Age," claiming £5000 damages for an alleged libel contained in an article published on Saturday. -