The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-26
LAWMAKERS NOT TAQTURN Australian Legislators Long-Winded. 0UTsPEAK AMERICAN soLoNs Records for Long Speeches Are
 Shattered. Lord Kitchener win Co To Australi. re Put New Life Into 4 Military Force. of
 Coloay.
0UTsPEAK AMERICAN soLoNs
BY ROGER CAMERON.

Melbourne, Sept z5---Members of the American Congress are sometimes ac- cused of undue loquacity. but their best efforts in this direction pale be- fore the achievements standing to the credit of members of the Australian House of Representatives.
 During the recent debate on the non confidence motion brought forward by the opposition, and extending over ten sitttngs. the speeches of nineteen sup porters of the resolution occupied close to forty-nine hours, giving an average of about two hours and thirty five minutes to each orator.
 The ministerialists were more modest although the fourteen members who took part in the discussion managed to consume altogether IS 1-2 hours The printed speeches of both sides ex- tend to no less than 1000 yards of tape. In this test of endurance, Mir Webster, one of the opposition mem bers for New South Wales, was easily first. He spoke for nine hours and forty minutes. and in print, his re- marks measure 537 yards. Then came Mir. Chanter with three hours and forty-nine minutes Mr. Foster with three hours and nineteen minutes each. Four other members of the- op- position each spoke for upwards of two and a half hours.
 On the government side the prime minister. MT. Deakin, occupied two hours. and Mr. Johnson two minutes longer, but only two other speakers were on their legs for more than an hour and half. One cause of the in- tolerable length to which speeches in the Commonwealth Parliament are drawn out Is the habit of constantly quoting at great length speeches made by members in pre-federation days In the state parliaments, There Is an eagerness to convict some old opponent of having changed his mind and when digging up state records fails Han saris' of the early days of fedora, ton are ransaeked. 1t is suggested that there ought to be some statute of limitations in respect to these resurrections of musty records.
 -,. Must Favor America.
 The commonwealth minister for de- fence, referring recently to the ac- ceptance of the tender of an Ameri- can firm for the construction of the small arms factory of Lithgow, for have much preferred to give the con- tract to a British firm, but that. even at preferential rates, the decision had necessarily to be in favor of the Americans. 'T attach no little impor- tance to this aspect of the matter, said MT, Cook. "So much so that the final decision was made by the Cabi- net to whom I submitted the com who was specially sent home to go into the whole matter. Is. emphatic In his recommendation of American rnachin- cry In his report. and he says that many of the machines turned out by the American factory will perform double the work of those he saw In Great Britain, The question of time has an important bearing" MT. Cook added that whereas the American firm undertook to have the works completed in twelve months, the Brit fish tenderers asked two~years and two and a half years respectively.
 Lord Kitchener is coming probably next year. Australia wants new impulse, an authoritative critic, great reputation. and vigorously reform ing energy to put lie into her miltia. Lord Kitchener seems just the man for the task He will have great wei come and a great task. The visit of the United States fleet aroused the Australians to some sense Of what modern sea powef really is. They will be fortunate if Lord Kitchener. im- presses them with what their land de- fence ought to be. Nothing could be more timely than his presence. Aus traIians promise to be q fighting race, but they need leaders, they need equipment, and they need knowledge of their own strength and preparedness for action,
 Opium in Australia.
 The commonwealth customs officials are still experiencing considerable trouble in regard to the introduction c' on'u,, into Australia. which has been strictly forbidden for some con A.a.rab4e time past. In fact Australia gave up $30D.000 year of revenue when forbidding the introduction of this produce into this country How