FEDERAL POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 304, 20 June 1912, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS

j THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. | By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. ! Received 19, 9.20 p.m. Melbourne, June 19. Lord Denman opened the Federal Parliament. The Speech from the Throne referred to the prospects of a continuance of prosperity and the marked increase in immigration. Dealing with the proposed maternity grant, he was unable to regard the natural increase of the Commonwealth with other than the deepest concern. The death rate was too high. Nearly nine thousand children had died under the age of one year, many from preventable causes. Men and women were the best asset of a nation; hence the proposed grant. He proposed to again ask the people to approve of alterations of the Constitution enabling Parliament to legislate effectively against trusts, combines and monopolies, and to extend the powers regarding industrial matters. He announced that the Government had agreed to a request of the Admiralty to reduce the squadron by the return of the Challenger and two first-class cruisers. The Government was anxious to cheapen cable communication with the Old World, and was still urging the laying of a State-owned Atlantic cable, also eo-operating with other parties in the Pacific cable agreement, introducing deferred and other cheaper forms of cablegrams. The Bills promised include the Navigation Act Amendment, Old Age Pensions, Trade Marks, and Customs Bills. The development of wireless telegraphy will be pushed on immediately.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Received 20, 12.5 a.m. Sydney, June 19. The debate on the Address-in-Replv was opened and adjourned in both Houses. A meeting of the Opposition re-elect-ed Mr. Deakin to the leadership. Jt was decided to move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply,' but the terms are not. stated.