AUSTRALIA’S PRIME MINISTER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3355, 3 January 1927, Page 7

AUSTRALIA’S PRIME MINISTER.

“One Who Knows Him” contributed to the London Daily Chronicle the story of Mr Stanley Bruce, the Prune Minister of the Australian Commonwealth: — . In 1904 Stanley Bruce, an Australian under-graduate at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, rowed in his ’Varsity’s winning race against Oixford. In 1914 Mr S. M. Bruce, Barrister of the Middle Temple, was engaged in practice at the English Bar. In 1917 Captain Bruce. M.C., Croix dq Guerre, returned to his native country from Gallipoli with two severe wounds. In 1918 Mr Bruce, M.P., made his maiden speech in the Australian House of .Representatives. In 1921 the same young man represented his' country at Geneva, and returned to a Cabinet post in Mr Hughes' Government. In 1923 he became Prime Minister. Even his friends could scarcely claim that the post had fallen to him by virtue of distinguished political service alone. He was, in fact, a compromise choice to enable the Coalition Government of his own party and the Farmers to be formed. A That was the story as it stood when the Australian Prime Minister attend cd his first Imperial Conference three years ago. His London exploits were the first step towards the position he holds in the minds of his people today—a. position unique in the history of Australian Federal politics. The Commonwealth has had Prime Ministers who compelled its admiration, who dazzled it by their brilliance, who earned its esteem by solid achievement. Never before, perhaps, has it had a political leader whom it trusted as it does Mr Bruce. When he took office he was handicapped by an aloofness of demeanor which made him seem a trifle inhuman, is hearing was invariably as faultless as his dress; his temper as unruffled as the well-brushed hair of his head. He has never lost the priceless attributes of imperturbability and unfailing courtesy, but he has added to them the gift of “getting himself across” and making himself known as a man to the mass of the people. After in’s overwhelming electoral triumph in November last year a wise observer in Australia wrote that Mr Bruce had won “because he was the kind of man whom ninety per cent, of Australian parents would like their sons to grow up to resemble.” On the platform, where he once was frigid, lie is now direct, slangy and perfectly ready to call a spade a spade - —or even an adjectival shovel. Behind all this is the supporting fact that he has never over-stated his claim, never made a promise that he could not redeem, and never attempted to gain support by flattery where the interests of his country demanded plain criticism. This sudden intrusion of the direct method upon the political scene has proved an astounding success. In home politics Mr Bruce has his firm adversaries and persistent critics. This is inevitable, yet even in home politics he lias probably done more than any man to bridge the gap between his own party and its opponents in the Labor camp. In the Parliamentary session which ended two months ago, a number of vitally important measures were passed, and they probably contained a record percentage of Bills which had the support of the Opposition, He comes to England hot from a referendum campaign on whose main issues ho and the Leader of the Opposition were in full accord. To anyone who knows the bitterness which has lowered the tone and impaired the spirit of Australian politics in the past these things are a portent and a promise.

Mrs Braley, wife of the principal of Bede College, Durham (Eng.), says that it is quite obvious that the girls of to-day need some guidance in tiie;r leisure hours. When she saw young girls wantering aimlessly about the streets at night under no control, she thought there was some justification for the proposal which emanated from Chicago in favor of the ringing of a curfew boll to call girls home, and not allow them out afterwards unless under parental control. A new industry that is believed to be on the way to success in East Africa is due to the work and imagination of some ex-army officers and soldiers. This is the cultivation of sisal, the stuff used as binder hemp. After the war some enterprising jxjrsons took over what the Germans had been doing, and nest year is expected to show the value of the venture.