POLITICAL TANGLE IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3021, 7 March 1917, Page 5

POLITICAL TANGLE IN AUSTRALIA

THE APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY

STATEMENT BY MR. HUGHES

(Rec. March 6, 10.15 p.m.) ' Melbourne, March G. The Governor-General (Sir Ronald Muuro-lferguson) has accepted Mr. Hughes's advice, and will dissolve Parliament. Mr. Hughes lias announced that the position now is that members of tho House and tlio Senators will retire at tho end of Juno and proceed to the country Forthwith. Tho Government intends to ask Parliament for tho necessary supply, and make arrangements ibr taking the soldiers' votes abroad and deprive alien enemies of their votes.

In tho course of a lengthy statement Mr. Hughes said: "The people of Australia, have demanded representation at tho Imperial Conference. I can now discloso the fact that the delegates had intended to leave to-night."

P.L.L. HINTS OF IMPROPER DEALINGS Sydney, March 6. Tho Secretary of tho Political Labour League says Ibat the Labour Party welcomes tho Government's decision to appeal to the country. The hideous nature of its dealings exposed during tho last few days threatened io place Australia in tho unenviable position of occupying a place superior to New York-in Tammany 1-antice.— Press Association.

SENATOR WATSON'S CHARGES OF BRIBERY Melbourne, March 6. In the Senate, Senator Givens stated that Senator "Watson would have an opportunity of ventilating Jus- charges in a Court.—Press Association. '

Tin t-lic Federal Senate, last week Senator Watson created a- sensation liv charging Mr. William Hughes (Prime Minister), Senator G. Pcarce (Defence- Minister), and , Senator T. Givens with endeavouring to use impropnr influenco to induce him to leave the Labour Tarty. Mr. Watson staled that thn suspicion liad been created in his mind that -mi act. of political treachery liad heen perpetrated for the purpose of allowing the present Government to continue in office and defeat the people's determination to prevent, conscription. Ho gave details of tha various conversations with tho Senators mentioned, amounting to allocations of attempted liribery. Senator Oivous replied that the statements were neither complete nor accurate.]