AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1917, Page 5

AUSTRALIA.

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. POLICY OUTLINED. STATEMENT BY MR 'HUGHES. Received Feb. 22, 10.10 p.m. Melbourne, Feb. 22. Parliament has re.assembled. Mr Hughes has given notice of motion seeking permission to present a petition Co the Imperial Government asking for the prolongation of the life of 'Parliament for six weeks after peace is declared, or until the eighth of October, WIS. 'Ho then outlined the policy of tne new Government, which he said stood for the development of the Australian national spirit by the foundation of Imperial ideals, and would devejop the policy of the late Government. Tt would .maintain an entirely "white" Australia, and its policy would be to create machinery for the expeditions settlement of industrial disputes. There would be no alteration of tariff just now. Regarding conscription, it would abide by the decision of the people. It was impossible to see what the future held in store, but the electors alone could reverse their previous decision. The Government intended to fully carry out its duty with regard to the repatriation of soldiers. The Commonwealth had already incurred a debt in connection with the war of £131,000,000, and its obligations for the calendar year for tho war alone would not fall far short of £70,000,000, and for other purposes than tho war, including repatriation, land settlement for soldiers, and financing the 1917-18 wheat crop, another £70,000.000 would be required. The probability of floating loans in Britain other than war loans, was remote, the financial policy of the Government would, therefore, be such as the circumstances imperatively demand —sound finance', but not the odious economy of reducing the wages of the working classes, or methods for forcing men to enlist. 'He regretted that the official Labor party had not joined the National Government. The reason was obvious, Ho officially declared that hi 3 resolution was not- only outlined in the present position of the parties in Par. iiament, so far as it affected the Imperial Conference, but it provided the only means whereby Australia could be effectivelv represented there. The responsibility for maintaining such an attitude as to' prevent that effective representation must rest on the shoulders of the majority of the Senate.

| LABOR ANTI-CONSCRIPTIONISTS. Sydney, February 22. Mr Catts, the leader of the anti-con-scription campaign, has returned from a visit to America. Senator Guthrie, for many yeara president of the Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia, was defeated for the presidency, his support of Mr. Hughes' conscription campaign allegedly contributing to the cause of defeat. WOMEN GET A REBUFF. Brisbane, Feb. 22 A deputation from the Women's Reeruitng Committee urged the Chief Secretary to comb out eligible men available for service in all business houses, replacing them with returned men, married. men, rejected men, or women. The Secretary, in reply, stated that he was strongly opposed to coercive measures, which would be highly improper. RETURNING NEW ZEALANDERS. Sydney, February 22. Forty-three wounded Now Zealanders have arrived, including Captain R. S. Orbell, of Oamaru, who was awarded the Military Crosa for rescuing wounded under fire at TTo man i.