LIBERAL VICTORY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1362, 13 February 1912, Page 5

LIBERAL VICTORY.

DEFEAT OF LABOUR IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. PROBABLE MAJORITY OF SIX. Bj Teloirraph—Press Associallon-O«pjr!«hl Adelaide, February 12. The elections were bitterly contested. Tho officials were greatly handicapped by the badly compiled rolls, hundreds of voters being disfranchised, some cf them being electors of long standing. In one electorate five voters found their names already marked through. The figures are still far from con picte, but progress returns point to a Liberal majority of six in the Assembly. The Socialists will probably gain two seats in the Council. LATEST FIGURES. (Eec. February 13, 0.20 a.m.) Adelaide, February 12. Election returns nre coming in slowly. The latest figures give the Liberals 21 seats aid tho Labour party IC. These figures may bo altered by later returns, but the defeat of tho Labour Government is certain.' The Labour Ministry of wliich Mr. John Verran is Premier, has been la office since. June, 1910, tho l'cakc-Butler Ministry havidg been defeated at the general election held in April of that year. When Parliament met a vote of no-confidence in the Government was moved by Mr. Verran, and carried by 22 to 19. The events leading up to tho late election arc thus related by the Melbourne "Argus":—"The Verran Ministry Inst year brought in an ordinary Appropriation Bill. Included in it were two items of extraordinary, expenditure—Xlo.ooo for the establishment of a brick-yard, and wEIOOO for a timber and firewood yard. These two establishments were designed so that the Government could supply brick, timber, and firewood to tho public. From a Socialistic standpnnt, there was something to be said for tho merits of tho proposals; but from a democratic point of view, tho procedure was indefensible. It was a piece of autocratic Socialism. It was an attempt to pass by a few lines on the Estimate proposals which had never been submitted to the people It was an endeavour to compel the Second Chamber—an elective chamber it should bo remembered—either to refuse to pass moiijy for the. ordinary services of the Government, or tn agree to an 'important scheme, uiifanctioned by the elector.';. In Parliamentary parlance, these Socialistic proposals were a "tack" —that is, an attempt to evado constituional government by tucking to a money Bill, which the Upper House could not amend, propositions which that House would separately and on their own merits reject. The Council rejected the Appropriation Bill, and that is how the Council defended tho people's rights to an opportunity of learning of and discussing an important measure of policy boforo it was ruslwd into law. "A conference of the two Houses was held, but it proved abortive, the Government declining to yield to reason. Miuisters then had the effrontery to blame the Council for refusing to paw the wages of Civil Servants, notwithstanding that it had offered to pass tho Bill if the two items for a brick-yard and a timberyard wero omitted. Upon calm reflection, however, the Ministry came to the conclusion that the people would blame those who had tho power to pay if they did not pay, and eventually the Civil Servants and others obtained what was due to them. "These are the plain facts that constitute a reply to the Labour party's assertion that it is engaged in a struggle to preserve the 'liberties for which our forefathers bled and died,' to use a common claptrap phrase. Putting aside the constitutional quarrel between the two Houses, which is the immediate cause of the election, the real point at issue is Socialism versus anti-Socialism. Tho Ministry is asking the people for support, not only for tho two projects now 'in the air, but for a. long programme of Socialistic props-nils "Tho Opposition does not tako up a mere negative attitude. It is conducting a vigorous campaign, not only against the Ministry, but in advocacy of a defined programme, which includes land settlement, railway extension, immigration, water conservation, and the extension of secondary and technical education. These ore subjects for useful domestic legislation and administration; but above all is the determined fight against Socialism, which in South Australia lately has boon ping the pace. This is what imparts to the present struggle a more than South Australian interest. Socialism is a Federal issue, and the contest hero is only a part of the great fight which will take placo at the Federal elections nevt year"