AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 71, 2 July 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

OPENING OF FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.

A HEAVY PROGRAMME FORE SHADOWED.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright

Received July 1, 8.45 p.m. Melbourne, July 1. ' The Federal Parliament opened today. After the swearing-in ceremony and the administration of the oath of allegiance, Mr. Furley was elected President of the Senate, and Mr. McDonald Speaker of the House. The Governor-General's Speech deplored the death of King Edward, and promised legislation dealing with the financial relations with the States and the Commonwealth, a note issue, the reduction of the pension age of women, progressixe tax on unimproved value of land (with exemption of land under the value of £6000), and the repeal of the Naval Loan 'Act of last year. A Bill will 'give the Commonwealth power to deal effectively with trusts, combinations and monopolies,' and another Bill will deal with the relation of trade, manufactures, production and industrial matters, and navigation. Parliament is asked to pass linese measures this session. Among the other measures promised are the taking over of the" Northern Territory, defence, uniform postage rates throughout the Commonwealth, the regulation of matters.connected with navigation, shipping rectification, tariff anomalies, subsidising of an independent news service over the Pacific cable, and active steps to promote immigration. The Spech referred to the negotiations with Britain and New Zealand for a wireless system connecting Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Referring to the Pacific cable, the Speech referred to having a telegraph line across Canada and to the question of obtaining the permanent use of a line, as well as a cable, across the Atlantic, thus securing a State-owned service between the United Kingdom and Australia. These subjects were under the consideration of the Government.

FEDERAL FINANCE. THE COMMONWEALTH DEFICIT. Received Jnlv 2. 0.3 a.m. Melbourne, Last Night. The Federal Customs and excise revenue for the year is £11,322.328. The amount repaid to the States is £8,824,627. and there is still due to the States £406,894. This, added to the sum taken from trust funds, makes the total deficit for the year £450,544. Mr. Fisher, in introducing a three months' supply Bill for £744.331, stated 'that £300,000 was required as a progress payment for the armored cruiser now building. It was intended to cover the deficit by borrowing temporarily from the trust funds, '

The Supply Bill was passed. Received Julv 2, 1.5 a.m

Melbourne, Last Night,

The Federal postal revenue is £3,722.512, an increase of £320.423 compared with last year. The Government proposes repaying three-fourths of the revenue to the States till the end of the current, year, then on the basis (decided by referendum) of £1 5s per head o fthe population.