THREE-PARTY POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 14 June 1909, Page 5

THREE-PARTY POLITICS.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA. , LABOUR'S ATTITUDE TO MINISTRY. (NX TlLEaalPfr-PEBSS ABBOCIATION —OOFYBIQBT.) .:;" ■■: ■.. ' '■:. .'Adelaide, June 12. • ■At a meeting of" Uio Labour party a protest, waa made agamst Mr. Peake taking office as Premier. •■ .-'■.'■ : , ■■■' " . An announcement was made that no alliance, would be made by ' the Labour party with any , other party in-future; A message dictated by the late Premier (Mr. Price)j just before his death, was read, urging the party to take courage, and'adding:— ./■..;! ..• '.■•'. ..'.' ■-,'.. ■ ';. "The Labour cause is the cause of humanity. It is a just cause, and must eventually win;";■';>,-;■• :- :; r 'v-_;. ; A CURIOUS POSITION. , A' previous cablegram from Adefaide stated: "In forming a Mr; Peake, the new State- Premier,,, was' thought .to have two courses. open', to him—one being to surrender the Premiership to the Labour party, and become, lieutenant in a"l<ai)our -.Ministry;, the other being, to form a'coalition -with the following of Mr. Eichard Butler (a: former Minister' in the Kingston and. Jenkins-Governments and now Leader of tho Liberal Opposition). Mr. P«ake, however, took a third course _ by ignoring both the Labour a«a Liberal parties, and, on tho strength of a following of eight in b.: House' of 42, formed an/Administration of his own.". ; ■•.■-.-: ' ~ .; '. Australian files supplement the information on this point. Mr. Peake's action in ; deciding to'..form a Govetnment with his personal minority caused as much surprise in political .circles as:a bombshell might have done. His determination means a'definite-and'irrevocable cleavage:in..the Labour party-; and ''one'im-mediate.-result has'been that■'Messrs.. Coneybeer and Wallas retire from Ministerial office, and return to. the caucus as ordinary members. It further means an\ affront to the Opposition, without -whose assistance the Government will not be -.ableto carry on when, the 'House, meets; • Mr. \Verran, ; Leader of the' Labour party, points out that when the coalition Government was formed in 1905, it was arranged that whichever -suction oF the parties came back-from the election ■ with the - greatest numerical strength should- have;the leadership. Hβ considers that. Mr. Peake hae ibroken the spirit of that compact. .Mr. Verranadds that when Mr. Pe.ike Vas appointed Acting-Premier, Mr. Price, (the late, Prime Minister), assured a delegation from the Labour party that he had taken every precaution to 6ee that the Premiership would be retained »y.a Labour man. At that time "Mr. Price,-,of conrfc..did iiot realise the critical nature! of his illness, and his intention: was to .relinquish office at'the end of the, session'. Mr. Verran savs'.that the Labour: party cannot see how Mr. Peako, with a party, of nine, could conscientiously assure the iGovoTnor that, he could carry on. business nnlees he: anticipated an alliance with the Opposition, arid'in that case he did not see how Liberals like Mr. Miller and; Mr. Pflaum .could reconcile their: position with the electors. ■