The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1917. A PRIME MINISTER'S PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2969, 5 January 1917, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1917. A PRIME MINISTER'S PROBLEMS

One big obstacle stands >in the way of tho assembling in London at an early date of a fully representative Imperial Conference or' 1 War Council. It is a state of affairs in Federal politics which is mildly described in one of to-day's cablegrams as obscure. The action of th<3 British Government in summoiling the Conference is no doubt as heartily approved by Mr. Hughes as by other Dominion Prime Ministers, and his attendance, on Imperial grounds, is very] much to bo desired. But if he is to represent Australia in London within tho next month or two he must first of all deal in some fashion with an array of domestic problems before which the heart of the most ingenious political strategist might fail. Evop the project of forming a National Ministry, which has come into somewhat unexpected favour, does not promise Mr. Hughes a way of escape from his troubles. It would at best ffibdify tho position. At present the Hughes Ministry exists on sufferance. In the House of Representatives it is wholly dependent upon the support of the Liberals, led by Mr. Cook, and in the Senate the aggregate forces of tho Ministerialists and Liberals are outvoted by the Caucas Party, which split from Mr. Hughes over the qonscription referendum. Tho formation of a National Ministry would only mean the closer union oi the Ministerial and Liberal parties in the House of Representatives, which are already co-operating. It would not in any way get over the difficulties arising from the hostility of the dominant party in the Senate, and these difficulties aro acute. The session which ended just before Christmas witnessed belligerent passages between the two Houses which may yet eventuate in a deadlock. The Australian Senate has power to make requests for amendments in money Bilk, and the Caucus majority in the Senate used this power, during tlie late proceedings of the Federal Parliament, in compelling tho Government to amend its taxation proposals, and in cutting down Supply. Under pressure from the Senate the Government amended its taxing legislation by reducing the impost upon incomes in the lower grades, and also accepted a reduction in Supply, which gives it ways and means only until next month, when Parliament of necessity must reassemble, if it does not do so at an earlier date. Other facts which must be kept in mind in order to grasp the essentials of a_ complex situation relate to election periods. Eighteen members of the Senate (half its strength) retire this year, and an election must be held before July. The period for which tho House of Representatives was elected does not expire until October. The House has power to extend its own life, • but postponement of tho Senate elections would involvo an amendment of the Contitution, and the passage of «i Bill in the Imperial Parliament. This procedure does not seem to havo been seriously contemplated in Australia.

Senator Gardiner, who leads the Caucus Labour Party in the Senato, last week publicly stated tho object of" the party in insisting upon a reduction in Supply.

We cut down Supply by one-third (ho said) in acceptance of Mr. Hughes's challenge with regard to a double dissolution. Wo gavo him an opportunity, but it is evident that ho is not disposed to accept it. ... It would appear from Press reports (added Senator Gardiner) that Mr. Hughes is thinki'rig of allowing tho Senate to go to the country by itself. This would mean that the Senate cloctions would take plaoo in, say, May, and tho House of Representatives elections in Octobev. As each olection would cost about .£IOO,OOO, tin's would be a serious course to adopt at this critical period of financial streee, and I am of opinion that some action should be taken to provont such a wanton waste of inonoy.

Tho Caucus Party, it will be seen, wants the election of both Chambers to take place simultaneously, whilo it is suggested that Mr. Hughes stakes bis hopes upon a separate Senate election before the House of Representatives has completed its term. Adopting this policy, he might conceivably checkmate bis political opponents. Of the eighteen Senators who aro retiring eight aro members of the Caucus Party. If two of these Caucus Senators wero defeated, and the seats at present held by Liberals and direct Ministerial supporters were retained, the Ministry would have a majority in the Senate. II events take this course, according to an Australian writer, it is more than likely that tho life of the Federal Parliament will bo extended until the termination of tho war, and that there will lie no election of tho House of Representatives in October, when the term of that Chamber would normally expire.'

This, however, is only speculation. The views and intentions of the (Joinnioriwealth Prime Minister have not yet been disclosed, Defeat in the Senate' oteetioii would, of course, , make tile position of the Ministry nnich worse than it is now, and probably compel its resignation. Whatever Uto otilcoino of the political manoeuvring now ill cvidenco in Federal polities, ili is very plain that the position of Mil. Hughes is full of embarrassments. The formation of a National Ministry would strengthen the position in the House of Hep resell tatives, hut the problem of the moment centres mainly in l.ho Senate. Mr. Hughes may favour the idea of holding the Senato elections separately, hut if the Senate refuses when Parliament meets next month, or earlier, his only remedy will bo tho double dissolution and appeal to tho country which the Caucus Party professes to desire. Tho Caucus Party, however, may not find tho possibility of g;oing to the country against a National Government quito so pleasing as contesting the ejections against Die Hughes Ministry, working with, but unattached to, the Liberal Party. With a National Ministry there would be a. probability of a more complete unity of effort on the part of the Hughes party and tho Liberal Party than exists under present conditions. For the moment the difficulties in the way of Mk. Hughes attending the proposed Imperial Conference would appear to be insurmountable, but until the Federal .Premier finally declares his intentions it would be. unsafe to predict that he will not be I,here representing the Commonwealth.