AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 164, 20 October 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. Melbourne, October 19. In the Bill for the Provisional Government of the Federal Territory a number of New South Wales laws, including the industrial and local government laws, will apply. Where the State law continues it is subject to any ordinance by the Go-vernor-General.

Mr. Hughes, in moving the second reading of the Constitution Alteration Bill, said that the proposed alteration would not lead to unification. The Federal compact required two powers, National and State. The Federal Parliament wanted all powers that were really national. It was essential that it should govern commerce. It had been thought that the Federal Parliament had power to govern monopolies, but it had been found that it had not. Australia was not going to sit idle regarding this, the greatest danger of modern days. It was not reasonable to raise the standard of living and lea-re the people in the hands of these powers that could fix prices. Twentynine monopolies had come under the notice of the Government, and they would have to teajph people that profits as well as wages were susceptible to legislation.

MINIMUM WAGE. THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. Received 20, 1 a.m. London, .October 19. In the House of Representatives, replying to a question as to whether the Government was prepared to introduce a Bill fixing the minimum wage of adult employees of the Commonwealth at eight shillings a day, Mr. O'Malley said the payment of such a wage in many cases would be excessive and out of proportion to the services rendered. The Government must regard Its responsibilites in other directions before involving the Commonwealth in the additional expenditure of £©o,ooo annually. Mr. Deakin strongly opposed the Constitution Alteration Bill. He said it was dangerous to hurry through legislation involving extensive alterations. No urgency existed for such changes. The danger lay in over centralisation which must arise through concentrating the peculiar State powers in the Federal authority. Once the Federal Parliament took the powers proposed, the States would be-' come sleeping partners who- need never be consulted. It meant a unitary Government in place of a Federal Government. WESTRALIAN PARLIAMENT. Perth, October 19. The Assembly passed a Supply Bill for £719,510, including £282,000 for loan expenditure.