FEDERAL POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9526, 25 June 1909, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS.

MOTION OF CENSURE.

PROBABLE ,GOVERNMENT MAJORITY. United Press Association—!3y Electric Telegraph Copvrigist.. Received June 24, 10 a.m. MELBOURNE, June 24. It is anticipated that the Government will have a majority of about ten on Mr Fisher's motion of ceusure. GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. Received June 24, 11.40 p.m. MELBOURNE, June 24. In the House; Mi* Fisher moved that "The Government does not sess the confidence of the House/' He said that the Ministerial party was a combination that could not be justified on the grounds of public policy. Many members were afraid of losing their seats if they went to the electors. It was a grave reflation on the present Prime Minister and other leading men on the Government Benches that they should form an unholy combination not to protect the interests of the public, but to protect their own particular seats. The Government by its action over the Dreadnought had taken the minds of young Australians from their own defence. The reply of the Imperial authorities to. Australia's offer had not been nearly so enthu-' siastic as Mr Deakin tried to make . out. He (Mr Fish r) would be quite j willing to render all possible assistance to Britain if it became necessary. Loyalty that had to be buttressed with gifts was not loyalty' Stall. The Government proposed to give two away at a time when it not sufficient money to properly arm the militia or send i cadets into camp. The Government [ was in no way representative of the | feeling of the majority of the elec-} tors, and he felt it his duty to taka

the earliest opportunity—and as many others as would be available to him—to compel the Government to submit itself to the electors. There was an indication in all the proposals of the Government to go to the Mother Country for this, that and the other thing. Give tha Australians their opportunity, said Mr Fisher, and Aushtralia woulJ take its place among the nations of the earth. Received June 24, 11.55 p.m. MELBOURNE, June 24. Mr Deakm, speaking in reply to Mr Fisher, contended that the offer of a Dreadnught was tendered as a pledge of loyalty, not for display. The offer might cover anything else that would be an equivalent. The Government was anxious that the real offer should go unsullied by any meaner motive. Mr Haldane, in his recent speech, stated that a great crisis existed, and that it was impeartive to deal with it.

An hon. member: Lord Beresford had said that Australia's gift could best ba utilised in Australian waters. / Mr Deakin: If that view was accepted by the Admiralty it could be given effect to. The matter could be discussed at the Defence Conference. ■ TARIFF ANOMALIES. / Received June 24, 10.10 a.n. MELBOURNE, Jure 2i'. Sir William Lyne has given notice in the House of a mot'on in favour of a Bill to remove anomalies i.i the Customs tariff. ACTION AGAINST COMBINES. Received June 24, 10.35 a.m. MELBOURNE, June 24. The Federal Government has decided to take action regarding the alleged coal and confectionery combines.