364 THE FEDERATIONS AND THE UNION [PART IV
Powers Bill, expressly admitted that some alteration was
necessary in view of the decision! He moved, therefore, as
an amendment to the Legislative Powers Bill, a provision in
favour of the maintenance of the industrial clauses of the
Constitution, subject, however, to the Commonwealth having
power to regulate the conditions of employment in all
industries which were federal in operation, or which could
not be effectually regulated by any one state, and further
to enable the Inter-State Commission to prevent and remove
anfair competition between the same industries carried on
n different states, and some such solution seems necessary.
The question of the power of the Commonwealth Parlia-
ment as regards land taxation was discussed at great length
in 1910 on the Land Taxes Acts of the Government. These
Acts are simply and solely measures for taxation, for their
end is not revenue but the breaking up of large estates? and
their validity has been contested before the High Court on
the broad ground that they interfere with the control by
the states of their land policy, and are not really taxing Acts
at all, but the Court unanimously rejected this view.
It may also be mentioned that a proposal to establish a
central agricultural bureau has caused some annoyance in
the states, and there has been friction with Western Australia
over the refusal of the States Government to allow prison
warders to remain members of the Commonwealth defence
forces.t The validity of the state inspection laws and laws
against plant disease importation has also been discussed,’
and as regards inter-state importation are seemingly quite
ralid.
' Parliamentary Debates, 1910, p. 5035. Contrast the view of Sir J.
Quick, at p. 4935.
* Senator Vardon, ibid., p. 5566, suggested the title Land Confiscation
Bill, which the President ruled out of order. See Osborne v. The Common-
wealth, in Sydney Morning Herald, June 1, 1911.
! See Commonwealth Parliamentary Debates, 1910, pp. 4218 seq.
* Ibid., pp. 4747 seq., 5701, 5892, 6203; Western Australia Parliamentary
Debates, 1910, pp. 1448 seq., 1498.
* See Sir J. Quick, Commonwealth Parliamentary Debates, 1910, p. 407 ;
opinion of Mr. Glynn, A.G., in Parl. Pap., 1909, No. 63, on South
Australian Proclamation as to erape vines. August 14. 1909. under the
