COMMONWEALTH POLITICS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 11998, 19 June 1914, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH POLITICS.

RECENT ETENTS EETIETVED,

<r_o_ oc_ ovnc coßEisroaTjesT)SYDNE-, June 13. After the short-lived sensation caused by the almost dramatic announcement of the dissolution of both Houses of tho Commonwealth Parliament, there remains a feeliug of surprise that it was possible for the Federal legislators to keep off a dissolution, either double or single, for a year after the last general elections. It was obvious before the final returns wero in for the elections of last year that as far as the House of Representatives was concerned all that could be expected was some party manoeuvring as a preludo to another appeal to tho electors for a working majority for either one party or the other—Liberal or Labour. *Wo do not know vet exactly when the elections will take place It depends largely upon the degree of expedition shown in tho correction of the rolls, wnich are, by general assent, dosenbed as vi a very unsatistnetory condition. Matters aro furtne-t beiiindnand in tins respect in New £outh Wales. Meanwhile we are expecting nothing more tronitu© «s----pirmg -oderal t'arbameut than tbe granting of Supply and much talk ot an electioneering character. Some of the Labour members who had hoped that it would be possible to confine tho dissolution to tho Representatives, and to leave undisturbed the present swamping Labour majority in the Senate, whero the term of service is six years, are saying unkind things about the Governor-General because of his compliance with the Prime Minister's request for a double dissolution. It is averred that his Excellency has done a dangerous thing from a constitutional iKtint- of view by giving a decision which is said to lay it down, in effect, that tho State-*' House, the Senate, must be prepared either to fall in with, the views of lbe representatives in vital matters or to dissolve. Against this it is pointed out that the GovernorGeneral was practically obliced to graiit a double dissolution when there arose tho condition of affairs specifically mentioned in the Constitution as ground for a double dissolution-—tho repeated rejection by the Senate of a Hill sent up from the House of Representatives. This situation arose in connexion with what was called and treated as _ test measure for the precise purpose of formally reaching the condition of affairs which tho Constitution provides for. The average citizen, not concerning himself much with line constitutional poiuts, but rather with broad actualities, 6ccms to be of opinion that there has been occasion during a whole year of wasted timo and money for a complete reshuffle of tho Federal "Parliament in tho hope of securing-a Parliament so constituted that progress can be mado with the work which Parliament is supposed to do. As usual both parties—there are only two recognised, for Liberals and Labourites are at one in keeping out a third party— are making statements showing that each is confident of winning; a t the imr>ending Sections. With reference to evidences of-'a-revulsion of sentiment with the "half-way" electors who helpr-d Labour on the last occasion, th" Liberal organisers make • vpr'v optirriKriio announcements. They arc _ ert /l ln <?f -beiiur-. able to .win in'AW •South V,'a]i (H . which h regarded as the pivot- State as far 'as .the" rat-ip" of £■ -.n_th of parties in - the Houto- ot .Uepresentatives is concerned. For their «_*•"; ■ Labourite* assert that they will oo bettor this time, arid they aro' mak-uisr-canytal out of t.bp waated v*r,r" during .whi _ the Liberals wero' in- office and were not able .to -do anything: '"'"'-' LABOUR fiOLIDARITY ''' v^W^f 11 - e^ on _""_ th the interesting; development in Federal political affaire, much attention is;directed towards Nov/ boii* Wales. Not only has this State the .largest share in the constitution of tho federal Houso of Representatives, !l- I ."s al «> regarded as • the. State w men has the largest proportion •of __° not nsc dly devoted to any particular political- creeed, .and able by the current of their temporary tendency to make and- unmake either of tho recognised : two part,6S ' A little while-ago the newspapers wore full -erf-report* of diißension and lack of harmony in la'boiir political quarters Ministers and the Political Labour .League were said to be seriously at loggerheads over various matters, notably the ! nomination of' member- to the Legislative Council. .ft was mado clear enough that the Promier, Mr Holtnan, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assemb. . Mr Meagher, wero on the. brink of a Kfo and death strmzclo for supremacy in the Labour caucus, and Mr Hoi man said about Mr Meagher some "hot" things, which were declared to call for immediate serioiiinvestigation. Generally, it looked as if'the.Labour Party was .going to apply some of its aggressive energy and abundance of personal ambition to splitting itself into sections, fighting. each other with all tho bitterness of relative, at feud. But the double Federal dis~. solution seems to have operated liko a magic balm. It is apparently agreed that what happens to Labour candidates at the impending Federal elections is likely to happen again at the .text State elections. This week wo read of nothing but declarations of Labour solidarity, of arrangements for eager *»-operatM>n betwocn all sections ofthe Labour movement; of . smiling disinclination to discuss anything of the nature of family dissension. Our Liberal organs find in this another test on whidh to urge Liberal electors to also apply themselves to the campaign with enthusiastic solidarity. ' From the Literal point of view it is extremely inopnortuno for tho Farmers' and tiers' Association, which represents in the country the same political elements as are represented, in tho towns mainly by the Liberal League, to proceed in the direction of fighting with candidates of its own. There arj on the notice paper for the impending annual conference of the Farmers' and Settlers' Ass-uiati-m several notices of motion in favour oi" non-association with any other body. _Tieso read like motions of want of 'confidence in tho Liberal League. But. as most of thoso. notices were framed before tho announcement of the Federal doublo dissolution, ami the''Labour Party's example of solidarity in tho face of a common enemy, thero is every _pro-pect of the Liberal League and the Farmers' ami Settlers' Association arriving at a better understanding, to their mutual advantage.