FEDERAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1494, 30 June 1905, Page 2

FEDERAL POLITICS.

By; Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. Received 1.5 p.m., June 29.

Melbourne, June 29. In tbs House Mr Watson resumed the debato on the address. The most significant feature of Lord Northcote’s speech was the omissions. If (ho Government discovered they wore in a minority the obvious course was to resign, not even to attempt a redistribution of seats. He explained at length the Labor platform. He could not see how the Federal Parliament could in any way touch Socialism in tho way indicated by Mr Reid, who was trying to alarm the people. The only schema the Party was pledged to nationalisation on was the tobacco industry. Concluding, he

| said he believed that Me Reid had not the shadow of a chance of a majority at the polls. Tho Government bad done nothing in the past, had no policy in the present, and no prospect in tho future. _ M'r Reid, in replying, said if the Government had not a majority why did not the leader of tho Opposition challenge them straightforwardly? Apparently there were some underground negotiations not yet complete. Ho was prepared to proceed with the business. Until Mr Deakin’s Ballarat speech he had no inkling of his intentions. He did not know Mr Deakin’s support was withdrawn from the Govern- I ment until he read the speech. He claimed that there could be no possible alliance between Mr Deakih and Mr WatBOn on principle in face of Mr Deakin’s expressed views of the Labor Party. The Labor caucus la a tod two hours. At the conclusion Mr Watson declined to make a statement. A report is current Shat the caucus agreed to support Mr Deakin if ho moved no confidence, bnl trrivtd at no decision ns to a formal allimce with the Protectionists, the party iwaiting developments. In the Serrate Mr Fraser, moving the idoption of tho Address-in Reply, olaimcd hat the present Government came into lower on the distinct understanding that hey should maintain fiscal peace, The □cialism advocated by the Labor party ronld ruin the country and drive people way. Mr Gray, seconding, said Mr Deakin ad taken a most dishonorable course in '-opening the fiscal question, which was j atrimental to the best interests of the ommonwealtb. Mr Deakin had dis--, jnored the political obeque giveo to Mr eid.‘ The debate is proceeding.