AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 139, 7 December 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

THE CIVIL SERVANTS BILL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, December C. In the Federal House the Civil Servants Arbitration Bill passed through committee. Received 7, 1.10 a.m. Melbourne, December (!. A Bill to place Federal civil servants under the Arbitration Act was read a third time. THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE. Melbourne, December G. Tn the Federal House of Representative?. Mr. Thomas moved a motion to approve the purchase of the Strand site f.u- the erection of the Commonwealth in London. The total cost, includiii:; the proposed buildings, will be £.187.000, and the estimated annual net cost to the Commonwealth £11,288. The debate was adjourned. THE TARIFF CHANGES. Melbourne. [">• cember 0. The Minister of Customs is besieged by deputations regarding the tariff alterations. The chief complaints are that the chances ,<in> inadequate and that many ixhunaiiis remain. THE VICTORIAN SPEAKER. Melbourne, December C. Mr. Madden was re-elected Speaker of the State Assembly. THE RECENT SCENE. Sydney, December 0. In reply to the strong protest by Mr. Wade and the Oppositionists against the Speaker's treatment of Mr. Wood and his subsequent removals, the AttorneyGeneral justified the Speaker. Mr. Wood should have followed the regular course and sent a message through a brother member that he was prepared to make amends and express contrition. CADETS AND DRILL. Received 7. 1.20 a.m. Sydney, December (i. In the Senate Mr. Pearce introduced a Rill materially reducing the hours of drill for senior cadets. Complaints had poured in from parents that the work is too strenuous.