THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 4

THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS

The success of the Labour party at the Commonwealth elections is the greatest triumph yet achieved by Labour-Socialism. While Labour has on previous occasions attained office in Australia, it has on each occasion in the Federal Parliament been dependent on outside assistance for its hold on the Treasury benches. The election just ended has been won after a straight-out fight against Liberalism as represented by the Deakin-Oook "fusion" party, and Mb. Fisheb will take up the reins of office with the comfortable assuranco that he has a party behind him which represents a clear majority in both Houses. In one respect this is a good thing. If the Labour-Socialists are to be returned to power it is better that they should be in a position to ensure a stable policy for their period of office than that there should be the chopping and changing that has been demoralising the politics of the Commonwealth ever since the Federation of the States. So far th» Labour party when in power has acted with moderation. 'It is contended by its opponents that this has been due to the fact that had it done otherwise it would have been promptly displaced—as it eventually was—by the party with which jt was for the time being allied. With practically a freo hand, supb as Mr. Fisher now possesses, it is argued that the absence of restraint- will soon make itself felt, and that, however much the leaders may desire to hold back from extreme measures, they will be forced into them by the pressure of the militants in the rank and file. This remains to be seen. The policy with which the Labour-Socialists went to the polls is set out in the following planks of their platform: 1. Maintenance of White Australia. Si. New Protection. ■ 8. Nationalisation of Monopolies. i. Graduated Tax on Improved Land Values. 5. Citizen Defence Force. 6. Commonweal' , .! Bank. 7. Restriction, of Public Borrowing. b. Navigation Laws. 9. Arbitration Act Amendment. 10. Insurance, including Insurance against Unemployment. Some of the planks-in this fighting platform, as. can well be imagined, made strong appeal to a large section of the community. Tho DeajinCook Government's platform was practically the same, save that it omitted the nationalisation proposals, the State Bank, and the. graduated land tax. The. elections have been strongly, and at times bitterly,.contested. In Victoria especially, Mr. Deakin and other Liberal leaders have had a very strenuous time, being on occasions unable to obtain a hearing owing to noisy interruptions from bands of Labour's supporters. In the end the splendid organisation of tho Labour party has produced a triumpu which has exceeded the anticipations of their, leaders, and has given the people of Australia a ( Labour-Social-ist Government. Fortunately the men at the head of the party are not lacking in the gift of statesmanship, and have a proper recognition of the great responsibility that rests on them. It is the unthinking rank and file, rather than the leaders of the Labour, party, '[ that\ may ,'. make trouble for the new Government.