FEDERAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 102, 27 May 1909, Page 2

FEDERAL POLITICS.

OPEXINtS ill-' Till-: I'KDKKAL PAItUAMEXJ. Tlli-J UOVKUX'OIi'S M'iiECU. Received .May 2U, 8.1(1 l>.m. Melbourne, May ill. The Federal Parliament opened to-day. Lord Dudley, tiovernor-tieiieral, i,i his speech stated that the customs ami exvise duties during the yi-.u' were less tlmu anticipated when tue Budget was delivered, while the revenue estimated from tiie post and telegraph was not likely to he fully realised. Xolwitli-, standing the by careful -if.'Oiioniy and administration a larger sum than the amount estimated had .been placed to the trust fund witn which to pay old-age pensions, t'arlia inent would, he said, lie asked to consider the financial' relations of the Com monwealth and file States, with a view to an equitable adjustment. Proposals would be submitted for a silver and paper currency. The defence proposals he referred to in terms of tile po,lcy already declared by the Federal Pre mier (Mr. Fisher).

FUSION* PROPOSALS ADOPTED.

MR. DEAKIX ELECTED LEADER. Received May 20. I 1.3.) p.m. Melbourne, May 20. Tlie opposition parties'have accepted the fusion proposals. Mr. Alfred Deakin was unanimously elected leader. 'Hie form of tiie attack oil the Uoverninent has not yet been decided.

LAND TAX ASSESSMENT, ■ Received May 20, 11.35 p.m. Melbourne, May 2(1. The Land Tax Assessment Hill has been introduced. It provides that an absentee owner be taxed the full unimproved value, while any owner Who is not an absentee is granted exemption below CiiOOO. . The House adjourned. THE FUSION PROPOSALS. Melbourne, May 20.

A Labor l'arty caucus yesterday discussed tlu> programme to submit at the opening of Parliament to-day. Sir William Lyno wiw very sore over the fusion proposals. Ho said under no condition whatever could he join forces with men whom Mr. Deakin is said to have moulded into a union.