In view of the approaching session the Labour party has already met in caucus. Mr. Watson, the leader, reports that discussion has centred mostly around the Arbitration Bill, which will be the first measure dealt with after the Address in Reply has been disposed of. The Labour party last session during the debate on the same measure, brought in an amendment placing all public servants within the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court, but the amendment was lost. The party is still solid on the point, but sooner than lose the amendment again, will give way if the Bill is made to apply to all railway employes. The Navigation Bill will be the next item to demand the attention of Representatives. The Bill seeks to impose a minimum wage clause on all steamers in the interstate trade. Representatives from Westralia object to this clause, until such time as their State possesses railway communication with the cast. This Parliament will be decidedly triangular, as the Ministerial, Opposition, and Labour parties are almost numerically equal, and some compromise with one or the other is absolutely necessary if the Government is to carry on.
State.
Premier Irvine has handed in his ro-signation on the score of ill-health, and succeeded by Mr. Bent, late Mini Railways. Various other changes in the State Cabinet have taken place, the late Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Taverner) being appointed to the long vacant office of Agent-General in London. The new Premier's manner is bluff in the extreme and when discussing the lust-mentioned appointment he remarked thet this is to be no gold lace business." The duties of the new appointment will be general agent rather than the reverse title. Ho will just advertise the resources of the country and look after producers, interests at the other end. The salary is at the rate of £1,000 a your, whilst it is intended to do away with the extensive clerical staff, and appoint a couple of men from our Mines and Agricultural Departments in their place. Impecunious shire councils may expect a bad time at the hands of the new Premier. One such interviewed him recently on the subject of an increased subsidy; they were asked what rate they imposed for the maintenance of roads, ote. "One shilling," they told the Premier." Well go home and mako it 1/9," was the practical reading of, Mr. Bent's answer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.