FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 270, 7 November 1908, Page 6

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

STRAIIN ED RELATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND LABOR PARTY. WHO SHOULD PAY FOR DEFENCE! Melbourne, November 0. Strained relations exist between the Labor Parly m the Federal Parliament and the Deakin Government. The dispute is principally over the proposed amendment in the constitution in the direction of giving eU'ect to the new protection. The Laboritcs strongly oppose the vesting of larger powers in the inter-State Commission. Many condemn the Commission altogether and prefer to leave the imposition of working conditions and rates of wages to the Arbitration Court.

At a caucus of the Labor Parly it was practically decided to break away from the Government. -Mr. Fisher, leader of the Party, is expected to make an otli eial statement to-day. In the l'Vderal House of Representatives Mr. Million moved: "That the practice of defraying the cost of national defence out of Customs and excise is inequitable and unjust and should be discontinued; that, as one of the principal objects of defence is the protection of private wealth, its possessors should be required 10 contribute by direct taxation an adequate sum for naval and military defence." He stated that the private wealth of Australia amounted to £1,000,000,000. He estimated that £810,000.000 was owned by 8450 persons. The debate on the subject is unfinished.

FEDERAL CAPITAL SITE. Melbourne, November (i. The Federal Senate was unable to take the ballot on the capital site question yesterday owing to the opponents of the Yass site protracting the debate. According to present indications Yass will have a majority of four.

ANNEXATION OF NORFOLK .ISLAND. Melbourne. November 0. The IVderal Government intends to introduce a Mil to enable it to take over Norfolk Island.