AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 158, 21 November 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. REFERENDUM BILL. TRUSTS AND COMBINES. By Gable—Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, November 20. Mr. Hughes, in moving the second reading of the Referendum Bill, deab ing with trade and commerce, claimed full powers to alter the constitution. It was never pretended that the Commonwealth was a finished product that could stand for all time. The Government was attempting to breathe into the constitution the breath of modern life. He denied any attempt to establish unification. He argued the necessity, in view of recent High Court decisions, for stronger powers for the Federal Government to deal with industrial matters, trusts and combines. There wSre trusts in Australia, but the Federal Government was powerless to reach them. The Beef Trust had already a footing under the present law, and if free would exploit Australia as it had done America. Mr. Deakin declared that there-was a unanimous feeling against encroachments by trusts, but he foresaw a prospect that a system of nationalisation would be more dangerous still. The country had not reached the stage where it was prepared for a change of the whole character of the constitution. The proposals were an attempt to annex the powers of the State legislators. Best interests of Australia would be served by loyal allegiance to the Federal principles. The new proposals would produce an exactly opposite effect Mr. Hughes subsequently moved the second reading of the Referendum Bill, giving powers to deal with corporations, instancing the Vend and sugar cases to prove the need for wider powers.

MORE DISORDER. Sydney, November 20. The Perry motion was carried by. the closure after a warm debate. After the vote the Speaker sent for Mr. Perry, intending to inform him that his suspension waslifted. but Mr. Perry had gone home. The eases of named members were then dealt with. After a lot of wrangling and many warnings from the Speaker, the explanation of Messrs. Wood, Gardiner and Price, who were also added to the list of delinquents, was accepted. When it came to Mr. Moxham's turn to give his version of the incident mentioned he used the words that it was impossible for Mr. Perry to get a fair deal. The Speaker immediately stopped him, claimed that he had been grossly insulted, and asked the Premier to deal with him. Mr. McGowcn moved Mr. Moxham's ejection, which was carried by 30 votes to 32. The Sergeant conducted him out amid Opposition cheers and upl oar. The discussion of the Estimates was then resumed. At one point of the debate Mr. Willis strongly protested against the treatment the chair was subjected to. He said he would have to consider how long be could remain in the chair, if the standing orders were to be violated and the Speaker insulted. Great public interest was taken in the debate, and the House was densely crowded. The Government's backdown with regard to Mr. Perry and the others was decided at a caucus held early in the dav.

WIGS ON THE CREF.X. SPEAKER WTLLLS ACiATX. Received 21, 1.25 a.m. Sydney. November 20. Tn the Assembly Mr. Moxham was called to tlie liar of Hie House and invited to apologise. 7Te expressed liis willingness, but the Speaker was not satisfied, and insisted that lie must put the apology in writing. Loud evies of dissent followed, and the Speaker ordered Mr. Moxham's removal. Mr. Wood was also ejected simultaneously, Mr. Willis alleging that Mr. Wood interfered with the Serjeant-at-Arms in the performance of his duty. Mr. McGowen immediately moved that Mr. Moxham's apology be' regarded as sufficient. Mr. Willis enquired whether there was any objection to taking the motion now. -Amid cries of ''Take it now!" Mr. Willis adjourned the debate and left the chair. _ On resinning in the evening Mr. Willis practically took the business out of the hands of the flovernment. He refused to receive the Premier's motion or allow him to move the suspension of the standing orders, even on the score of urgency. Finally, after a sitting which during the afternoon and evening combined lasted forty-five minutes, the Premier gave notice of a, motion of dissent with the Speaker's ruling, and immediately moved the adjournment.