AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 173, 5 August 1901, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Sydnky, August 2. The Assembly had an sll night Bitting. Mr Lee's amendment wu tugatired by 61 to 28. Ths Address-io-Rep'y was adopted on tbe Toioea. Mblboubnb, Augusts. In the Senate Mr Keating moved that the Government ehould immediately arquire the Bss Strut* cable, which could bs obtained for £70,000, the original cos*:. The Post* master-General deprrcitad forcing the hand of the" Government. The debate was adjourned. In the Senate a disousiion has Ukea place as to what should be the qualifications of the Sigh Commissioner in Loodon. Tbe Goveram- ntr holds that a man e! good social standing and gifted with a diplomatic mind should be selected, rather than one wi-H up in commercial produce knowledge. Melbourne. August 3. The Labour F.rty reprtsenta'ms have raised a tempest over th« old-age pensions, which formed a plank of Mr. Barton's (-lection manifesto, and wu affirmed in the Gavernoi'a Spaeoh. Members accused ths Premier cf load* ing his programme with roetsurss he never intended to propose. Mr. Barton said nothing could b* done un il the end of the bo'keepng period. As this shelved the question for anything f rom five to tea years tee Labour Party became »ngry and wi«hd o force a division. Mr. Burton declinsd to accept any instruction to prepare a Bill immediately, ia order to sl'.ow the matter to cool. The debate wai adjourned. B=BS!I "