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FEDERAL LIBERAL PARTY.
REVISED PROGRAMME.
CONSTITUTION REVISION
APPROVED.
PREFERENTIAL VOTE FOR ONE
HOUSE.
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
FOR SENATE.
A FEDERAL "WHITE SLAVES"
INQUIRY.
The official . report of the decisions 0f
the Australian Liberal Union confdrenci-
held in Melbourne at the end of August!
will he issued to-day by the I'eoples
J-nberal party. Ihc document shows
that additions were- made to the
platform of the union— ivh.eh now repre
sents all the Liberal leagues throughout
Australia— which tonsiderably cnlaigc the
policies upon which the Lfoeral organisa
tions ivill fight the next Federal elections.
Some of the additions were carried unani
mously, as, for example, the. following pas
sage in the platform: —
National Social Insurance.
"To provide for a comprehensive scheme
of national insurance on a contributory
basts, embracing sickness, accident
maternity, widowhood, . unemployment'
properly equipped siniatoriii.;' '
Others, however, were the subject of keen
debate, and were carried by substantial
majorities. The following are the more im
portant resolutions:— .
Preferential Voting.
"That tlie principle of preferential vol-
nig be embodied in the' platfoi-ni of the
Australian Liberal Union."— Carried by
'17 votes to 10.
Proportional Voting (for the Senate).
"That the clause in favor of proportional
voting he restored to the platform"—
Gamed by 19 votes to 6.
Separate Referendum Voting Days.
'"To ensure a true expression of public
opinion on questions of national import
ance, all appeals to the people bv referen-
di,"V, ,t0 G'e Federal constitution
shall be made at a. time other than that
01 a general election,"— Unanimous.
Transfer of State Powers to the
Federal Parliament.
"That the States bo requested to volun
tarily transfer to the'Fedcrul Government
such powers as are necessary to enact effi
cient legislation, and, failing this, that the
Federal Government he urged to take
steps to secure the amendments of the con
stitution offered by. the party wiion in
Opposition, and any others making for
social justice und freedom.'"— -Carried, on
the motion 'of two Victorian delegates
(Mr. H. B. Connell and Mrs. 11. Brookes).
Trusts and Combines.
"Tliat the Si-ate Liberal organisations be
asked to impress upon members of tlie
State Parliaments tlie necessity lor the
regulation and control of trust combines."
— carried, on tlu motion of a Victorias
delegate, Cr. F. O. Sambcll.
Eqiial Pay for Equal Work for Men
and Women.
"That the following plank be added to
the platform: — 'Equal work, equal jiay,
for men and women.' " — warried, on the
motion of a . Victorian delegate, .Mrs-
Brookes.
Social Inquiries.
"That this conference' recommends to
tlie Federal Government that tin inquiry
be made in connection with the whit'„
slave traffic and the kidnapping and abduc
tion of the women and girls of the New
Hebrides." — Carried, 011 tlie motion of a
New South Wales delegate, Mrs. Leh
man.
Many other resolutions relating to in
ternal party, organisation, literature ami
monthly papers were passed, us was also
the following recommendation to State
leagues to amalgamate: —
' "That it. be a strong recommendation
from this conference of representatives oi
the Liberal organisations of the Common
wealth - that where more tliun onti Liocral
organisation exists in any State tliat an
amalgamation of any such organisations
shall be brought about with a view to
solidifying the strength of the party ami
effecting. the utmost economy in organisa
tion and campaign expeifditure, facilitating
the selection of candidates and avoiding
competition in the raising of funds."
At the close of the conference the newly-
elected council of the Australian Liberal
Union met, and elected the following exe
cutive: — New South Wales, Mr. Joseph
Cook, M.P.; Victoria,- Mr. Herbert
Brookes; Queensland, Mr. . L. E. Groom,
M.P.; South Australia, Mr. 11. W. Foster,
JM.P.; Western Australia, Sir John For-
'rest, M.P.; Tasmania, Mr. A. X. Crnik-
sliank. Mr. John West was re-elceted sec-
Tctai-y.
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