AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 11, 7 July 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Adelaide, July 6. The vo'\ if censure debate has been abandon ...

CRISIS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sydney, July 6,

The Herald states that a crisis is imminent in the State Labor Party over the question of the freenold land tenure. The Minister for Lands is likely to resign owing to the caucus decision not to proceed with the repeal of the Conversion Act. About one-third of the party threatened to break away if the attempt was made to abolish the freehold. AN OPPRESSIVE IMPOST. Sydney, July 6. At the annual meeting of the Pastoralists' Union the president referred to the land tax as an oppressive and irksome class impost, bearing with special severity on so-called absentee owners and owners of poor grazing areas. The attitude of the majority in the State Parliament towards the man on the land left much to be desired. The new Industrial Disputes Bill contained many objectionable features likely to lead to vexatious delays and costly litigation.

CRIMINAL APPEAL BILL. Sydney, July 6. In the Assembly Mr. Holman, in moving the second reading of the Criminal Appeal Bill, said that in its main features it followed the recently passed English law. It provided that Supreme Court and District Court judges should sit in a new court, which should be ready to hear .appeals against convictions at short notice. It further proposed that the Supreme Court bench should be saddled with the responsibility of deciding whether death sentences should be carried out.

Mr. Wade strongly opposed the lastnamed provision, as likely to drag the judges into a position which might involve them in conflicts with public opinion.

ABSOLUTE MOONSHINE. Received C, 9.10 p.m. Sydney, July <5. Mr. Holmes, Acting-Premier, describes the rumored disruption in the caucus as "absolute moonshine," and without the slightest foundation. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT. Received 7, 12.25 a.m. Adelaide, July 0. In the Assembly, while several Opposition members were absent, the Government sprang a surprise, and declined to reply to the censure motion, which was defeated by 18 to 10.