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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 18th JUNE.
The SPEAIiEII took tho Cbnlr at 2 30
p.m.
The acting Usher of the Black Roil atten
ded and summottded members to appear In

tho Legislative Council to hoar ills Excel
lency the Lieutenant-Governor's speech.
The Speaker resumed the Chair at 4.30
p.m.
NEW MEM REUS.
The following new members took the oatti
nod their scats:—
Sir S. Gillott, introduced by the Premier
anil Mr. Bcaalcy.
Mr. W. II. Williams, introduced by
Messrs. Dugrgan and M'Kinnon.
Mr. Fothcrtngham, Introduced by Messrs.
Gurr and Ramsay.
Mr. O'Counor, Introduced by Messrs. BUI
.ton and Hennessy.
All these gentlemen took their scats on the
Ministerial beaches amid Ministerial
timers.
AN ADDRESS TO THE THRONE.
The PREMIER moved:—
That the House agree lo the following address
10 Ins Majesty the King:— To the King's Most
Excellent Majesty. — Most Gracious Sovereign.—
. N\ e. the Legislative Assembly of Victoria, in Par
liament assembled, embrace the lirst opportunity
we have had since the death of our late tkf loved
.Sovereign Queen Victoria to assure your Vaicsty
that we deeply sympathise in th gri'4 sorrow
which your Majesty has sutained by tlirt sorrow
ful event.
We submit to your Majesty our respectful <>n-
gratulations on your accession to the Throne, and
hope that under the Divine blessing your Majesty
may enjoy n long and prosperous reign# and that
It inav he marked hv a continuance of the progress
and happiness participated in by all classes of the
British race during the reign o! your Majesty s
( illustrious mother.
The event, which had occurred since the
House Inst met, had caused the most Intense
jjrief throughout the Empire, and his Excel
lency the Lieutenant-Governor, through Ills
MlV.lters, had communicated with his
Majesty" the King, expressing the feeling of
the representatives of tho people of Vletorlh
with the death of their late beloved
Sovereign. (Hear, hear.) Since this was the
urst occasion upon which the House had
met since that event, it became his duty to
submit the .motion for the consideration of
the Chamber. (Hear, hear.) The majority
of the people in that State had not had the
privilege of viewing their late beloved
Queen, but the feeling which bad arisen in
the minds of all classes was exactly similar
to that In every other portion of tho Empire.
As a constitutional ruler and as a leader of
the nation her late Majesty would always be
remembered by the people over whom she
had reigned. With regard to her successor
—known to them so long as tho Prince of
» Wales—they could assure him of their loy
alty- (Hear, hear.) He begged to move the
resolution conveying the terms of tho ad
dress. (Hear, hear.)- '
Mr-' IRVINE, who was received with
cheers, did not think It necessary to add any
thing to the words. that had fallen from the
rremler. (Hear, hear.) Nothing he eoulu
add could more fully or more completely ex
press their feelings. (Hear, hear.)
Tho motion was put and carried.
The House then adopted a message to the
Lieutenant-Governor embodying the ad
dress, and requesting hlin to commuulcote It
by cable to the JCIng.
PRIVILEGE BILL.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, In order to
preserve the privileges of the House, Intro
duced a bill to amend the Trustees Act
1800. , x .
The second reading was fixed to-day.
ADDRESS IN REPLY.
Mr- W. H. WILLIAMS, on rising to move
the adoption of the Address in Reply to the
speech of the Lieutenant-Governor, was re
ceived with cheers. He said that, as mem
ber for St. KUdn, lie desired to express his
tribute of respect and admiration to the
career, both personal mid political, as a mem
ber of that House, of the gentleman to whom
ho had the honor to be successor. (Hear,
hear-) It wns a matter for congratulation
that, as the question of finance was. one of
the serious problems of the federation, the
Federal Treasurer was the man who had
done so much to restore the finances of our
State- (Cheers.) He trusted to merit the
same respect as Sir George Turner, though
possibly not tlie same attention. He did not
agree with the tendency to underestimate
the value of State politics In consequence of
the accomplishment: of Federation. (Hear,
hear-) Never since responsible government
was granted had the effect of State politics
been so Important as It would be In the first
few years of Federation. The State must
be governed economically, without Impairing
its efficiency, so that we would be able to
tope with the further expenditure that
Federation had rendered necessary. He was
pleased to see that the Government recog
nised this. The State Parliament should,
cither officially or unofficially, let the Fed
eral powers know that they expected similar
economy in the Federal Parliament. (Hear,
hear.) Industrial legislation should be uni
form throughout the States. Victoria should
not be placed at a disadvantage simply be-
cause she had adopted more humanitarian
principles. The measure for the reform of
- £,?P-«fftQRtltuti.on was the prluclpal measure
proposed Iby thb- Government. It had been
generally admitted that reforms wore uoces-
«arv before Federation, but It was now abso
lutely necessary that they should be taken
In hand at once. Under the Government
proposal, no step towards reform was to bo
tifken without the concurrence of the House.
Ho wns In favor of the bi-cameral system of
legislation, but the time had arrived when
some means should 'be adopted to prevent
I one House, conscientiously perhaps, blocking
n measure which had been passed by the
»er House, and upon which they find the
nrljr defined expression of tho people,
leers.) A convention was the reasonable
v out of the difficulty.
>Ir ,7. MTNTYRE: We have not come to
dr. WILLIAMS: The form of convention
s that by which we got otir Federal con-
tul Ion. The objections raised were that
was "unconstitutional," "Illegal," and
ivolutlonary." It. wns difficult to under-
'??. 'stand how the opponents of the convention
put the unconstitutional aspect. It was
competent for Parliament to transfer the
whole. Legislature to the convention. (Laugh
ter.) The proposed convention, contrasted
with what was actually Federal law, was
moderation Itself. Another objection raised
wns that the convention wns derogatory of
the rights of Parliament; that Parliament
wns elected to do this work, and was capable
of doing It. He did not say that Parliament
was not capable of doing it— (Hear, hear)—
but the reforms were of such a nature that
tho history of the Legislative Assembly and
Council of the State proved conclusively
that Parliament would be unable to settle
tho question. (Cheers.) There had been
three quarrels between the two Houses in
the past which had plunged the country into
dlsnster. In one case the, quarrel wns the
cause of "Black Wednesday," and in tlie
other of an embassy to London. The Coun
cil had nlwnys Insisted on Its right to amend
bills which incidentally appropriated money,
and the Assembly always insisted that, the
Council had no right to do so. At any mo
ment they might be plunged into tho Ramc
trouble that they had experienced In their
earlier history. The importance of this mat
ter wns to be seen in the very careful pro
visions In "he Federal Constitution to meet
any trouble. (Hear, hear.) Provision wns
there made for the Senate to request amend
ments In appropriation hills,
f The PREMIER: "Suggest," not request.
Mr. WILLIAMS: It was also provided that
Hie Senate had no power to amend ordinary
appropriation bills, but n distinction was
made between bills which ordinarily appro
priated and bills which incidentally appro
priated. i
Sir .7. M'INTYRE: Would you, tben, give
the Upper House the same rights as the
Senate?
Mr. WILLIAMS: The power of the Upper
House should he in proportion to its fran
chise. He did not think the two nouses
should he on the same franchise, but If they
wore they should have co-cqunl power. An
other reform was the reduction of members
of tho House of Assembly. No one should
be judge in Ills own cause.
Mr. E. CAMERON (Portland): Why, then,
elect members to the convention?
Mr. WILLIAMS: If the people elected a
man on the convention, knowing that he was
» member of Parliament, they had confidence
in him, apart from the fact that he was a
member, of Parliament. (Cheers.) 'When
ever It was possible to ascribe foul motives
to n politician it was done. (Laughter.)
/TTIiefifRI?MIER: Have You learnt that?
(Laugfftcr.)
Anlft W.ILI,TAIS: There should be some re
duction in members, but not a sweeping re-
cso were tlie only objections
wS» n. A!"""011' ni"'rt from tho ob
jection that It was a Government proposal.
should1 ho i T'!,P mattor of old »K0 pensions
w J 2 p ced on n definite and scientific
flhonhi w5;,, mcnsurc which was framed
wion d not discourage thrift. Those who
title, lndoIPnt n,,d reckless were not on-
t tied to pens ons, bnt should depend 011
the generosity of the public nnd
the ordlnnry charitable Institutions
fused with old "to Pensions ho eon:
fused chnrlly. All the proceedings Id
mHI'. ?vlth tho C3Cnm'natlon of nppll
cants ought to he conducted in public
. . (near, hear ) The State should have power
to force children to contribute towards the
support of their parents. lie was oxtromelv
GoTdidnnt q,,estlon of technical cdncn'
! " r- "Py " n,ore Prominent posl
tlon In the speech. The pcrnlc.
Ions system of payment by results should he
abolished from the Education Act. Legisla
tion providing for the conservation of wntcr
wns absolutely necessary. He was glad to
see that n Conciliation nnd Arbitration Bill
was proposed. The country wns looking for
administrative capacity much more than for
legislative ability.
Mr. NICHOLLS seconded the motion. A
Liberal and progressive policy had been put
' forward, and he would support the Govern
ment as long as no measures inimical to pro
ducing Interests were Introduced. Ho was
sorrj that the Government proposqd (0 pro
vide no more than £1,10.000 to assist fourth,
fifth and sixth class shires. He held that
, £200,000 at least should have been appor-
If

cloned. Good roads wore of as much nat
ional Importance as railways, for llicy
served as feeders to the railways. Tlie de
termination of tho Government to appoint a
director of agriculture would, ho was sure,
have the approval of both sides of the
House. The position required a man
with tact, ability and business acumen,
and he trusted the Minister would not be
moved by outside clamor In making the
appointment. As a result of this and other
determinations by the Cabinet, producers
were beginning to have more confidence In
the Government. The Coal Mines Regula
tion Bill should be made a matter of
urgency, and he trusted the Conciliation and
Arbitration Blli would also be pushed for
ward quickly. lie wns glad to notice that
the Government wns taking steps to provide
water for the mallee. (Hcnr, hear.) Every
drop of water (lowing down our streams
that wns ueeded for use Inter on should be
locked up nnd conserved, no matter what
the cost. (Hear, hear,) The provision once
nnd for nil of proper drainage fncllltles for
the Moo and Koowecrtip swamps would he
a good Investment on the part of the Go-
verntuent, nnd would give n tenfold return
when once the areas wore placed on a tho
roughly reproductive basis. He hoped tho
Government would sec the necessity of
amending the Railway Lands Acquisition
1 'P'10 con vent Ion proposal commended
Itself to hlin, because It took its power
direct from the people, because It wns abso
lutely just, and because he did not believe
an agreement woiild ever he arrived at I11
any other way. (Hear, hear.) He regretted
tlmt statements had boon made In the
Argus" belittling (lie Slate 1'arlia-
meut, nnd representing it as 11
Jl"1"' of glorified municipal council,
rho gentleman who wrote that article did
not know what lie was doing.
Mr. KEAST: Nobody reads tho "Argus."
(Laughter.)
Mr. IRVINE, In moving tlie adjournment
of the debute, nskod whether the Premier
would indicate tho course of business to he
done by tho House. (Hear, hoar.)
The PREMIER said ho was delight
ed ; to find Ihnt the honorable gen
tleman, who had boon -so long In
tile House. and who had nlwnys
treated members so courteously, was leader
of the Opposition. (Cheers.) He felt confi
dent that the relations between them would
he such that they would he able to work
together In the best Interests of the coun
try. (Hear, hcnr.) He hoped that the re
sults of their respective efforts would he
sueli tlint they would I10 able to respect one
another's political opinions. Members might
have seen In the press, nnd he might men
tion tlint lie nnd the .officers of tlie House
and of another place lind received, the Invi
tation of the Federal Government to din
ner.
A Member: What about this coldplace?
(Laughter.)
The PREMIER wished to Inform mcmhers
that tlie Public Works department could not
get certain radiators that were required for
lionting tlie rooms In Victoria, nor even In
Australia.
Sir J. MTNTYRE: Yet you pay duty on
them! (Laughter.)
The PREMIER: The Public Works
department stnted tlint they would
have tliem here In nbout ten dnys—
(laughter) — and If hon. members would
only wnlt tlint . time they ' would
he all right. (Vigorous dissent.) He hoped
to have the Address In Reply passed as soon
as- possible, although ho did not wish to re
strict discussion. After that he wns anxious
to pass the supplementary estimates.
Sir J. MTNTYRE: Have you got enough
funds for tills month?
The PREMIER: TVc have plenty of money.
(Cheers.)
; Mr. MURRAY suggested the adjournment
of the Address In Reply until nftcr those
radiators had arrived. (Laughter.) If the
present weather continued nnd the building
got no warmer, tliey would not pass supple
mentary estimates, hut would pass away
themselves. (Loud laughter.) He had no
ticed that the warmest place in the building
was the room for Ministerial supporters.
Without in nny wny chnnglng his political'
views or supporting tho Ministry, he was
going to change his quarters until the radi
ators did arrive, and until then
I10 would luiunt tho Ministerial sup
porters' room. (Loud laughter.) The
Premier now could look nnd see a formlclahlc
phalanx of supporters behind him, but If the
present weather lasted, by tlie time the radi
ators arrived I10 would look behind him nnd
find they were not tliore. (Laughter.) They
would have fallen victims to rheumatism
nnd colds, and that most fatal of all diseases
—bronchial pneumonln. (Laughter.). As fur
as his own side was concerned, hon. mem
bers did not mind; tliey lind lived such a dif
ferent life to tlint of hon. members on the
other side tlirit they were proor against cold
and exposure.: (Loud laughter.) The first
consideration tlie Premier should have' wns
the comfort of members. If lie wished to
have n comfortable time he should look to
the personal ..comforts of members. (Laugh
ter.) He (the speaker) honestly nnd seri
ously said that It was simply coquetting
with death to ask members to sit there day
after day In such a temperature. Let tliom
have the supplementary estimates up nnd
get rid of them, and ask the rreinler to
postpone the Address In Reply until the radi-
ntors arrived, and they could Irrndintc them
with their eloquence. (Laughter.)
The debate was adjourned, and the House
rose at 0,15 .p.m. until 4 p.m. tills day.

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