AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 17 November 1916, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

POLITICAL CRISIS. I RESIGNATION OF FEDERAL MINISTER. | MELBOURNE, Nov 15 After the Labour split Mr. O'Malley and Mr. Mahon resigned from the Ministry, and Mr. Hughes immediately formed a new Cabinet consisting or Hon. W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister and Attorney-General; Hon. G, S\ Pearce, Minister of State for Defence; Hon. J. Jensen, Minister for the Navy; Hon. Webster, Postmaster Genera*; Hon. Poynton, Treasurer; Hon. W. O. Archibald, Minister for Trade and Customs; Hon. Bamfordj Minister for Home Affairs; Hon. Lynch, Minister for Works; Hon. Spence, Vice-Presi-dent of the Executive Council; Hon. Laird Smith and Senator Russell, assistant Ministers. When the caucus met a motion declaring the leadership of the party was moved. After several members had attempted to heal the breach, Mr. Hughes stated that as the remaining members were acting on the instructions of outside organisations, ane ; were impervious to argument, he ex- j pressed regret at severing a lifelong | connection with the members opposed to him. He then vacated the chair and, requesting his supporters to follow, left the room and selected a new Cabinet. The portfolio of Minister of Internal Affairs was abolished, and the work distributed between the Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs. Mr. Hughes tendered his resignation to the Governor-General and received a commission to form a new Government, when the new Ministers were immediately sworn in. It is understood that when the House of Representatives meets, the labour members opposed to Mr. Hughes will cross over to the Opposition side and move a vote of no-confid-ence in the Ministry. Referring to the cleavage, Mr. Hughes said the position had become quite intolerable and incompatible with responsible representative Government, as members were no longer free agents, but merely registered the opinion of outside organisations.

THE N.S.W. NATIONAL CABINET SYDNEY, Nov 15. Premier Holman has officially announced the personnel of the State National Cabinet as follows: Mr. W. A. Holman, Premier and Treasurer; Mr. Fuller, Chief Secretary; Mr. D. R. Hall, Attorney-General; Mr. Fitzgerald, Vice President of the Executive Council; Mr. Garland, Minister for Justice and Solicitor-General; Mr. As-n ford, Minister for Lands; Mr. Ball. Minister for Works; Mr. Graham, Minister for Agriculture and Mines; Mr. James, Minister for Education; Mr. Fitzpatrick, Assistant Treasurer; Mr. David Storey, honorary Minister; Mr. Beeby will be given a seat in tlie Upper House.

THE COAL CRISIS. : GOVERNMENT SEIZE STOCKS. ——— l | POSITION GROWING SERIOUS. / SYDNEY, Nov 15. To-morrow- the naval authorities have decided to commandeer the fer.ry companies' stocks, and have only permitted a very limited service. The Government also seized all coko supplies. 'A thousand men were put off at the Lithgow small arms factory to-day. All coal lumpers ar,e now idle, and the Government wheat ships are held j up. j The Newcastle Labour Council has decided to support the miners if State ' action is not taken. j