LABOR IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 105, 11 January 1912, Page 5

LABOR IN AUSTRALIA.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. COMMONWEALTH OR STATE RIGHTS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Hobart, January 10. In the unification debate Mr. Fisher declared that the Commonwealth was hampered at every turn with reference to questions of health, shipping and railways. The powers asked for at the last referendum were the minimum needed for the National Parliament to protect the interests of the whole people. Even with them it would be difficult effectively to deal with monopolies. Mr. McGowen made a strenuous defence of State rights. He said it was dangerous to give the Commonwealth power that would enable the supreme authority to be exercised. After a long discussion with closed doors the conference officially announced that the unification motion had been defeated by 19 votes to 6. A motion that the Federal Government own and control the railways was defeated by 17 votes to 3. The conference entered upon a debate on land taxation. Several delegates contended that the exemption of £3OOO was too high. The debate was not' concluded. SOME OF LABOR'S WANTS. Received 10, 9.30 p.m. Hobart, January 10. The labor conference decided to support the taking of a new referenda in connection with the proposed constitutional alterations, and reaffirmed the desirability of abolishing the State Upper Houses, but negatived the Tasmanian proposal for a federal tax on unearned incomes, with exemption up to £IOOO.