FEDERAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 16, 25 June 1909, Page 2

FEDERAL POLITICS.

WANT-OF-COXFIDENCE MOTION. THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER. NEW GOVERNMENT ATTACKED. Received 24, 11.40 Jj.m. Melbourne, June 24. Mr. Fisher (Leader of the Opposition) moved that Hie Government does not possess the confidence of the House, llu said the Ministerial Party was a combination that could not bo justified on the grounds, of public policy. -Many members were afraid of losing tlieu scats if they went to the electors, it was a grave rellection on the present Prime Minister and other leading uien on the Government benches' that -they should form an unholy combination, not to protect the interests of the puDlie hut to protect their own pnrticulai seats. The Government by it* action over the Dreadnought had taken tlw minds of young Australians from thenown defence. The reply of the Imperial authorities to the Australians' o/lcr had not been Marly so enthusiastic as Mr. Deakin tried to make out. He (Jlv. Fisher) iwould be quite willing to render all posbiKe assistance to IWtain " it became necessary. Loyalty that had to be 'buttressed with gifts was not loyalty at all. The Government proposed to give two millions away at a time when they had not sullicient money to properly arm the militia to send tin' cadets to'camp. The Government was in no way representative of the feelings of the majority of the electors. He felt it his duty to'-take the earliest opportunity and as' many others as would be available to him, to compel the Government to sirlmiit itself to the electors. There was an indication in all tltf proposals of the Government to go to I the Mother Country for this, that and the other thing. Give Australians their opportunity, he said, and Australia would take its place among the nations of the earth.

MR. DEAKIN'S REPLY. Received 24, 11.55 p.m. Melbourne, June 24. Mr. Deakin, Tn reply, contended the offer of the Dreadnought tended to jiled"e their, loviiltv,.and not made for display. The offer might cover anything else that would lie nil equivalent. Mr. Haldane in a ! speech had stated that a great crisis existed and that it was' imperative to deal with it. . An lion, member: Lord Beresford.said Australia's gift could ibest be utilised in Australian '.waters. Mr. Dcakin said if that view were accepted by the Admiralty it could be piven effect to. The matter could be discussed at the Defence Conference.

INSURANCE AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT. Received 24, 11.40- p.m. Melbourne, June 24. The Federal Government proposes to rtibinit to Parliament a scheme of insurance against unemployment.