A LEGISLATIVE MUDDLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81864, 13 October 1906, Page 2

A LEGISLATIVE MUDDLE.

FEDERAL PREFERENCE BILL. Melbourne, October 12. When the Preference Bill came back to the House of Rapresentat'ves after the Senate had a second time rofused the Government's amendment tlu Attorney-General moved that the House should no longer insist upon its amendments. It was forced into this position, became to insist upon the amendments would mean putting an end to the Bill. It would . now be presented to the Governor- *•

Genoral for his assent, and it would be for him to say whether he would assent to it or not If it were re: served for the Royal assent it would be for the Imperial authorities to say whether they would accept it. If the Bill was not accepted it would be recognised that the fault did not lie with the House.

Mr Joseph Cook said if the Bill were lost it certainly would be the fault of the Government. , -■*" Mr Glenn urged the Government to withdraw the Bill; it would only embarrass (he Imperial authorities for the sake of a pettifogging piece of preference that could not possibly benefit the Mother Country. They had not asked that this should be done in violation of the Imperial obligations.

Mr Edwards said the most important jjhaafi of the subject was that if the measure "w?re defeated this way by the 'Senate 'they would .have to consider the institution of some ays*, torn of Government by which the Ministry would have to be responsible After further debate, the motion was agreed to, and. the Bill returned to the Senate, which will consider it to-day.

(A later message stales that the Governor-General has reserved the Bill for the King's assent.-