AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 151, 22 December 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

m FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. By Onble —Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, December 21. In the Senate in the course of the discussion on the postal estimates, members criticised the action of the Government in adopting an independent wireless system, and said that Uhe Marconi and Telefnnken companies were sure to bring actions for the infringement of their rights. The Postmaster-General reiterated that if it was found they were infringing anybody's rights the Government was prepared to meet them fairly. He trusted that when the Senate met after the recess they would have the seaboard fitted with wireless stations and absence of legal complications. The Federal Session closed after a busy sitting. The House sat throughout yesterday night and again on Wednesday till after midnight. It passed the Estimates, Inscribed Stock Bill, Public Service Bill, Australian Notes Bill (which was amended to reduce the gold reserve on the note issue to 25 per cent.), the Electoral Bill, a Bill to appropriate trust funds for old •ge pensions and the Senate's amendments to the tariff. The Senate passed the Loan Bill through committee, the Pacific Cable Bill through all stages, and the Appropriation Bill. ELECTION PUFFS. Received 21, 1.15 a.m. Melbourne. December 21. The Senate, in passing the Electoral Bill, retained the clause enacting that all political articles and paragraphs during an election campaign must have the writer's signature. QUEENSLAND LIQUOR BILL. Received 22, 1.15 a.m. Brisbane, Deceml>er 21. A conference of the two Houses failed to agree to the Legislative Council's amendments to the Liquor Bill. It is stated in the Council that the prospects of an agreement are hopeless. The House adjourned over Christmas.