FEDERAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 310, 9 February 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS.

OPENING OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN. TJIK GOVERNMENTS POLICY. By Cable—Press Association.—-Copyright Melbourne, February 8. Mr. Alfred Deakin opened the Ministerial campaign at Ballarat. At the forthcoming election, lie said, there would be only two parties and generally I one dividing line. The work done by I the fusion of the Government last session formed a basis sufl'icient to appeal to the country upon. Until the Finance Bill and State Debts Bill were accepted by the people no adequate forecast, of the financial position was possible. Hu urged the electors' to vote for both measures. He hoped the tariff would i» future be dealt with apart from theory and oeneral political doctrine. Wholesail! revision, he trusted, would become a thing of the past. There were anomalies in the tariff, but when the results of examination were brought out there would be submitted more complete proposals. The new plan would be free from theoretical impediments. Preferential trade proposals would be submitted for promoting trade with Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. A "new protection'' would be formulated, dealing lot only with the tariff on protected industries, but also with fair hours and fair wages'. Fair conditions of employment were the ends aimed at, lie hoped to see wages boards general throughout i Australia, with a Federal tribunal to adj just the difficulties. The proposed intcrI State Commission would be invested with 1 wider powers of inquiry than the British j Board of Tradt. ' The problem of unemployment, hj« I said, must lie first attacked in a modest way. The unemployable must be marked and ticketed off and separately dealt with. A great deal in the way of social amelioration could be done \n Government inquiry, supervision, and aid. He indicated a system of superannuation or pensions for Federal civil servants, lie suggested that the States Federation might be able to co-operate in the matter of the Northern Territory, which must be developed and people put there. It must be defended and railway communication established. A reference to the offer of a Dreadnought was rweived with an outburst of hooting, but followed immediately by a counter demonstration of cheering. 'Mr. Deakin expressed the opinion that the scheme of defence which Lord Kitchener would suggest would be essentially acceptable in principle, practical j in design, economical, and securing above | all efficiency. On the Federal capital territory the Government intended to raise horses for military purposes. He would be disappointed if the next Parliament closed without having sanctioned the building of railways to connect with the west and Port Darwin. Tenders were being invited for a newer and faster steam service with Canada, i Reorganisation of a drastic character was contemplated in the postal service, j and the postal rate would be assimilated throughout the Commonwealth.