EXIT MR. BRUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 247, 18 October 1929, Page 6

EXIT MR. BRUCE.

Not the least sensational feature of the sweeping Labour victory in Australia is the defeat of Mr. Bruce. By las,t night Mr. Bruce had fallen so far behind that his pdsition Was hopeless. He lids thus earned the father dubious distinction of being "the first Prinie Minister in the history of the Commonwealth to have suffered defeat iri his own electorate Ivhile he held office." We have yet to see if Mr. Bruce's determination to devote hifllself to public life still holds good) but iii the meantime it will be necessary for the Nationalists and the allies whom they can collect from other shattered parties to instal a leaden 1 iii the ex-Prime Miiilster's place.

Hie reasons for the of the Natitittftlists aiid the defeat of their leader were largely anticipated in the critieism to Which Mi', Brude arid liig colleagues Were constantly subjected by the Australian Press long before an appeal was made to the peopie.Md doltbt Mr. Brtice is able> public-Spirited and upright j but there it would seem that eulogy must efldi lie is apparently not an attractive or sympathetic personality; be cannot help producing tile impression that he is patronising liis audiences; aud he has never been iii toUdli wltli the rank aud file of his own party, to say nothing' of outsiders. This "stupid aloofness/' as the "Bulletin" irreverently termed it, has Undoubtedly helped to undermine his personal prestige; and Wlieh a man who no longer appeals to the public imagination fails to cohti'ol extravagance, preficheS dheery optimism without any adequate basis, and obstinately endeavours to force a distinctly Unpopular programme upon the electoi'S/ his political fate may be regarded as sealed even before the first ballot is cast.

fixit Mr. BrUce, and enter Mr. Setillirt. As this experienced Labour leader hag nfeVei* held a pdrtfolio, liis adhlinistrative 6apaeity ig ail unknown quantity, and the piatfoi ; m speech which he delivered ih opening the election campaign was by lio means olearciit and definite. The Arbitration law is to be revised on "sound businesslike lines, 0 Whatever this hi ay mean; but Mr. Scuilin lifts hot explained how it is to be enforced* Money is to bo spent tin developing 1 gold-Alines; an unemployment iflguraneo system is to be established! compensation to injured Workers is to be increased. But there is no Suggestion as to the amount of money that these things may l-equife. Mi*. Scuilin is in favour of political unification, that is, the virtual abolition of the States and the contl'dl of the Commonwealth from Canberra; and lie also proposes, like every other Australian politician; to tihify the railway gauges. As to finance, he intends td raise loans in Australia, where he will hardly find endiigh to go found) fend he has, given the usiial Laboilr pledge to establish a "people's batik" in place of tlie "banker's bank" that ftoW regulates the Commonwealth's monetary system. Except for this last iteih, the SCullin programme soiinds iiiiltt enbugh, but the interesting question is hoW long Labour Will be able t6 resist the efforts of the §xtreiiiis£g to drive it beyond control.