AFFAIRS AUSTRALIAN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 112, 8 November 1906, Page 7

AFFAIRS AUSTRALIAN.

A BRIGHT OUTLOOK. POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES, INTERVIEW WITH THE HON. J. GARRARD. There arrived from Sydney by the Wai. kare this morning, on a hurried pleasure trip, the lion. J. Garrard, who, up to his retirement some five years ago, had been in the New Soutli Wales Parliament for twenty yeais. Twice he held portfolios — that of Minister for Works in Sir John Robinson's Ministry, and Minister for Public Instruction, Harbours, andlndustry in the Hon. Geo. Reid's Cabinet. Subsequently he was appointed President of the Metropolitan Beard of Water Supply and Sevrcrage, a position he held for live years. lie is now an oilicial member of the same board, and has just concluded, with two other gentlemen, an arduous and lengthy enquiry into the grievances of the tramway employees, of which we have heard a good deal in the cables. Questioned on the steamer's deck this morning as to the outlook generally for Austialia, Mr. Gayrard said the country was having and wasy going to have one of the brighest eras in its existence. The wonderful conditions last j'ear and again this, pointed* to an era of prosperity unexampled in the history of New South Wales— indeed of Austialia. The llocks wliich were almo3l exterminated a few years ago by the' drought were now reaching high-water mark again. Rains had come at tha opportune time, and "I have never," reiterated the visitor, "in my forty years' experience of New South Wales, saen such a bright outlook. I ,' The New Hebrides question? Feeling on that was, dead. In missionary and limited commercial circles the arrange; ment betw een France and England was by no means looked upon with very great favour, but at present*, the question had not awakened general public attention. On the subject' of the Federal elections next month being raised by the interviewer, Mr. Garrard mentioned that he nearly became a candidate himself for a constituency that embraced part of his old electorate He thought that go far as New South Wales was concerned Mr. Reid would gain seats, and he might ulgo gain some in Victoria. Looking at the position all round., and knowing every State, Mr. Garrard was inclined to think that Mr. Reid would have a majority. Victoria \wis Piotectionjst, but a large number of the electors there would go against the Labour Party ; in other words, would enrol themselves under Mr. Reid's anti-Socialism standard. The Labour Party itself would, he thought, lose pats. It would not gel any of its men in New South Wales for the Senate, and jivould probably lose two or three, and peihap? four, scats in" the House of Representatives. It" >jras very likely there would be » very dogfight between Sir o. Graham, a iollower'of Mr. Reid, and Mr. Watson, Leader of the Labour PaTty. Mr. Dfiikin's Paity, if returned, wb'uld have to do the will of the Labour Party— "swallow themselves," in fact. Fuither light on the anti-Federal feeling in some States was sought. Western Australia, said Mr. Garrard, was disappointed because the thing it had set its heart upon — the Transcontinental Railway — there had been no tangible steps taken to vivify. The Eastern States did not look upon this railway "with any very gieat favour because it would pass lnrough a largs area of compaiatively worthless country, but on the other hand, theic v.tis a growing feeling that for national reasons, perhaps, the railway ought tc be constructed. Queensland had had its sugar industry interfeied with on tlie> question of Kanaka labour, and had suffered considerably. But although both Queensland and Western Australia, ciied out as having suficied most, Mr. Garraid thought that New South Wales had given more for Federation than any other btate in the Commonwealth. The electors of that State expected they would lose a gieivt deal, but in the interests of a common cause and government, they went into it. The majority of people in New South Wales realised now that all the disabilities and disatUanUges they expected had come to p r aEs;"and had been rubbed in, especially by their founds in Victoria, who had kept the capital site hanging fire fo long. Thete was not tho slightest doubt that if the question of Federeation was on the bo\uds just now in the various States, it would be defeated by an ovenvhmming majority. Yet all the6e little disabilities would pass by and by and although some who went for Federation did not care much for it just now, it was better for it to have come. Mr. Garrard had very little time to spare for even a "rushed" interview, but courteously gave some fuither information of general interest (in still another pomt — the effect of the new Gaming Act in the Mother Colony. Did it meet -nith popu> lar approval? "It is thoioughly endorsed by the pub. lie," wa6 tho emphatic reply, "and 1 believe that the State Government that brought in this Gaining Bill and the Liquor Bill will be icturued. at the next Slate ejections." Speaking from his experience of forty years in the State and twenty years in politics, he was sure no Government had ever passed such an amount of solid domestic legislation as tho present Government. In the person of the Attorney-General, Mr. Wade, the author of the tuo ni,eusuies referred to, (:hey luid a very strong man indeed. Mi. Camtthors, an old colleague of our visitor, was also a. very clever and able man, «nd there were one. or two other strong men in the Ministry". Ho had not the. slightest doubt they would be returned with eveu a larger majority. Both the Acts under review had -worked wonders. Some of their streets which were a nuisance to ordinary passers-by owing to the gumbling fraternity, were now clear, mid it was safe, if not ii pleasure, to walk down where before it was a danger. Besides, it had suppressed the gambling of i the people in the humbler walks of life, who frequently spent not only their own, but other people's money for chance of a possible gain. The moral effect upon the community was invaluable. As to the meeting that Wits held a week or so ago to start an anti-Puvilanic League, the names of some associated with it weie sufficient to damn it in the eyes of every right-thinking member of the community.