POLITICAL TURMOIL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 153, 26 December 1918, Page 5

POLITICAL TURMOIL

(raOH ODB OWN CORBESrONBEKT.)

SYDNEY, 13th December. The New Sojrth Wales Assembly, more than any other State Parliament, is a reflection of political conditions in the Federal Parliament, and it is a remarkable thing that m each at present there is apparent a profound discontent by the members of the Nationalist • Party with the Government which they keep in office.

Mr. Holtaan has just brought ihe state sessions to an end with the Bol-shevist-cum-I.W.W, Opposition shrieking furiously at him—which is rather to his credit tban otherwisa—butwittfmembers of his own party crying out against him—which, of couTse, undermines the security of the Government. Mr. Holman, lately, has been "getting himself m wrong" in several directions. He took exception to certain criticism by the Daily Telegraph, and set out to boycott the paper, and give all,sorts of 'scoops" to the Sydney Morning Herald. The Telegraph, as a result, has; been making all sorts of trouble for the Premier. Certain legislation which he wanted passed was pushed through ruthlessly, in the dying hours of the session, under the party whip, and the whole opposition, and some Nationalists who decided they had grievances, have been very angry about it. Mr. Holman i» a conciliatory sort of person as a rule, but in tlio last couple of weeks he has been hitting out vigorously, right and left, smiting friends as well as fdes. The session has closed in the midst of a furious buzz, which may or may not have a political reaction. Much the same thing has been happening in Melbourne, where Mr. -Watt has got all the Labour members, and a considerable-section of ■ his own party, shouting out "Dictator" against him. The sudden demands of demobilisation and repatriation, the Shaw wireless scandal, certain matters connected with pdace—all have piled an enormous load upon the too-willing shoulders of the Acting-Prime Minister, and he declines to get things done in the politician's usual way—by tact, diplomacy, finesse. Instead, he is going straight on with his programme, bluntly and determinedly. All Labour thought that the War Precautions Act should be thrown away now. Mr. Watt has stated f'ankly that he wants to retain for a little while yet some of the special powers the Act confers on him, in order to counter certain sinister activities of the anti-British elements in Australia, and he has taken authority accordingly. Mr. Watt is embarrassed by having a, number of incompetent Ministers in his Cabinet—mostly ex-Labonr'men, who swung into office on the coat-tails of Mr. Hughee—and he has to take responsibility for their shortcomings. Mr. Hughes himself, away in London, is quit© discredited so far as this country is concerned. Tlsere is a growing feeling against the Hughes-Watt combination. The General Election is still eighteen months away, but if Labour is to be kept out of power then, it will only be done by a drastic rearrangement of the present Cabinet, by which Mr. Hughes and his irw ; nds will disappear, and the realty efficient men associated with Mr. Watt will take charge of the difficult work of »timinietration. '