FEDERAL POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 6

FEDERAL POLITICS

FATE OF THE CABINET NOT DECIDED MR. HUGHES'S PLEDGE Meibourns, January 5. ' A party caucus refused to authorise) the Government to resign, and throws on the Cabinet the full responsibility for honouring the pledge given by Mr. Hughes at Bendigo to stand or fall by the result of the referendum. At the meeting of the National Party it was decided not to support any notion that would hand over the government to tho Labour Party. A motion that the Hon. A. Chapman be entrusted with the formation of a Cabinet was defeated by flu overwhelming majority. Cabinet meets to-day, but it is doubtful whether action will be taken until next week.—Press Assn.

MINISTERS EXPECTED TO RESIGN WITH A VIEW TO RECONSTRUCTION. (R«c. January 6, 5.5 p.m.) Melbourne, January fi. [ Long Cabinet sittings liave failed to reach a finality, although it is still believed that Ministers intend to resign and reconstruct tho Cabinet under tho leadership of Mr. Hughes.—Press Assn. STATE PURCHASE OF LAND MINISTER CHARGED WITH BETRAYAL OF TRUST. Adelaide, January 5. The report of the Royal Commission which has been inquiring into the purchase of land for soldiers and other purposes by the Va-ighan Government states that the evidence points to the conclusion that Mr. A. W. Styles, the then Chief Secretary, betrayed his trust as a- Minister, and assisted mi agent, enabling the latter to make a profit of £4000. Referring to Uie proposed* purchase of land for £292.000, the report states that the bind is not worth £158.000. The Government valuation had wilfully put untrue values on land.—Press Assn. ,