Latest Parliamentary News: The Tariff Issue Again: Improved Trade Prospects: Wrecking the Labour Unions: Shipping Developments From Our Own Correspondent.
Melbourne, May 15.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Hughes, fulfilled expectations by leaving to {take part in the Imperial Conference to be held in London next month. It will be remembered that few days before he was to sail a parliamentary crisis arose in consequence of a number of members voting to adjourn the House of Representatives, when as an_ actual tact they really desired to express am opinion in favour of reduced j shipping freights. Inexperience was the cause of their action, but the result was the defeat of the ministry. They could not vell explain publicly that they had been caught napping, and Mr. Hughes made it his business to treat the occurrence with the utmost gravity.
After consideration he moved a formal motion which gave the Country party a chance to vote with the Government, and so_restore its damaged prestige. Fortunately for the ministry an extremist on the Opposition side moved an amendment challenging the Government's claim to have the confidence of the House. This gave an-issue. which had its resemblance to the French method of voting confidence in the cabinet. The Country party voted against the amendment and with the Government.
Mr. Hughes was, therefore, able to leave with the plaudits of a big majority ringing in his ears. The House even adjourned for an hour a day or so later in order that members might see the Prime Minister away at the railway station by which he left to cross the continent to the West, where he joined the mail steamer.
So tumbled to pieces all the intrigues which were to nullify his desire to go home and to take part the redrafting of an Anglo-Japanese treaty which was not. to hurt the susceptibilities of the United States. He leaves his ministry strongly entrenched, with, should another blunder be made, a! definite vote of confidence upon) Which to rely.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.