AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 193, 24 November 1910, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

NEW SOUTH WALKS PARLIAMENT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, November 23. The vote of censure debate was continued till late 011 Tuesday night, and is likely to last some days. PREVENTION OF STRIKES. Sydney, November 23. Mr. Bepby, Minister of Education and Labor, declares that there is to be 110 modification of the Government's ideals. He is hopeful that a scheme of industrial legislation will be brought about which will prevent strikes. THE FEDERAL REFERENDUM. Melbourne, November 23. The Federal referendum on two Constitution Alteration Bills is fixed for April 26. Tlie House of Representatives passed the third reading of the Defence Bill. Amendments were made exempting theological students from military training, and providing compensation to the families of men "killed or incapacitated on active service. The Minister of External Affairs promised to obtain further information regarding the paid-up capital of the company which is receiving cable subsidy. The report of the Commonwealth statistician on the superannuation scheme has been tabled. It suggests a non-contribut-ing system wherein the right to a pension is an essential feature. In the event of this not meeting the approval of the Government, he also submits a contributtory scheme providing pensions to officers and allowances to widows and orphans. THE FEDERAL ESTIMATES. Received 23, 10.30 p.m. Melbourne, November 23. The House of Representatives is in committee on the Estimates. Mr. Deakin severely criticised the Government for holding back the discussion upon the Estimates until within two days of the end of the session. A peculiarity of the Budget was that the proposed expenditure was the same as the revenue, displaying no forethought. He went on to attack the introduction of the caucus rule, and said Parliament was deprived of its opportunities of independent criticism of the position. The speeches were lectures, and not speeches in debate, and the Government subjected the majority of Parliament to a minority, which reduced Parliament to a chamber of review. The Estimates provide for a second graving dock at Williamstown, at a cost of £385,000, and it will be one of the finest in the world. SUPERANNUATION SCHEME. Received 23, 9.35 p.m. Melbourne, November 23. In the Assembly the Treasurer, in moving the second reading of the Land Tax Bill, estimated that it would vield £206,000. The Statistician's report on the superannuation proposals estimates that the contribution bv the Government with the service of 15,000 persons, will be about £65,000 annually when the scheme has been in operation for ten years. In 20 years it will have increased to £99,000, and in 50 years to £107,000, remaining at that figure so long as the members of the service do not exceed 15,000.