AUSTRALIAN SUMMRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 185, 7 August 1903, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN SUMMRY.

Per Press Association, Beoeived 8,10.3S p.m. Brisbanb, August 6. Mr Brown's want of confidence motion was negatived by 38 to 30 and the Addrees-in-Reply was adopted. An Appropriation Bill for £700,000 was passed. Received 6,11.46 p.m. Melboubhe, August 6. In the House during the debate on the Defenoe Bi'l Mr Higgins objected to the clause making tbe permanent forces liable to serve beyond tbe Commonwealth, and said volunteers could always be found for that purpose. ' Sir J. Forrest agreed there was no immediate necessity for the clause, but considered that only little Australians would tie the forces to our territory. He asked if New Zealand invaded what ' oouldwedo? Mr Higgins interjected, amidst expressions of approval, "send volunteers." Sir J. Forrest said there was too much of this little Australian policy which acknowledged no obligation to tiie Empire. To destroy the clause would make ua look small. Eventually it was agreed to strike vat the clause, and progress was reported, The debate on the second reading of he Arbitration 81l was returned by Mr Reid, who supported the measure as an ezp9riment,and hoped the result would show that Australia could win victories and set examples to the whole world. Tbe agitation amongst the labour bodies here in favour of the Bill reflected infinite credit on them, for their willingness to trust their liberty and subsistence to judicial decision was ons of the grandest exhibitions and without parallel in other parts of the world, Baoelvad 7,1.13 am. Brisbane, August 6. In the Assembly the est'mates tabled forecasted revenue at £3,680,000 and expenditure £2,152,000, plus interest on the public debt-, the estimated surplus being £4IOO.