AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1917, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

FEDERAL POLITICS. 'A DOUBLE DISSOLUTION. APPOINTMENT' OF CONFERENCE DELEGATES POSTPONED. Auftralian-N.Z. Cable Association^ Received March 5, 5.30 p.m. Melbourne, March 8. In the Senate, Hon. Senator Milieu', vice-president of the Executive Council,' announced that the Federal Government \ had decided on a double dissolution immediately, as the attempt to secure the > co-operation of all parties in carrying on the war failed, and there was no, < hope of an agreement being reached. : The selection of delegates to the low' - perial Conference has been postponed DISSOLUTION CR KATES SURPRIS&' Received March o, 10.35 p.m. Melbourne, March 0. The Government's decision lit .fcottf houses to appeal to the country immediately is remarkable, inasmuch uH' was generally forecasted that tlie Go** eminent expected the Senate to carry . the "Extension of Parliament Proposal* this morning with a majority of one. Senator Millen, in explaining the de* cision, said that from its first pitting , the Government had been assailed with a virulence and malignity unparalleled in the history of the Federal Parlia- ' ment. It was clear that there wa* na hope of co-operation from the Opposii tion, rendering all attempts at govern' ment impossible. The decision necessarily involve* thd postponement of the departure of tfce delegation to the Imperial Conference. • Mr Hughes submits a full statement to . the house to-morrow,. Although a double dissolution is announced, the constitution provides that under present circumstances only half ! f the Senate go to the electors, probahljr at the end of April oi early in May. .. STATE ELECTIONS, i /' .■ Received March 5, 0.20 p.m. Sydney March 8 There has been 222 candidates for tM ninety State electorates. Fivfc Laborltei > onii three, Nationalists were returned unopposed. T.aboritcs oppose three members on active service, an Independent i Laborite one, and an .independent onjk ' NATIONAL DEGRADATION. I STRONG INDICTMENT BY Rff- ' TURNED SOLDIERS. Received March 5, 9.20 p.M, Sydney, March S. The Returned Soldiers' League at itl first, annual congress, representing 20, OttO, curried a motion deploring the result of the referendum, and recorded it# unutterable contempt for the public men' who, by misrepresentation and lies, wen responsible for the national degradation of Australia in the eyes of the/fighting ■ nations. It further resolved to urge ol| Mr Hughes to close stadiums and racev eoiirsc-s immediately. " " i