CAUCUS CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 133, 3 December 1930, Page 11

CAUCUS CONTROL

POLITICS IN AUSTRALIA

"DEMOCRACY A FARCE"

AUCKLAND, 2nd December. "Democracy in Australia has become to all intents and purposes a farce," said Mr. W. A. Boucher, who returned by the Marama to-day after a business 1 visit to the Commonwealth. "With Labour Governments in power people have practically no say in the affairs of the country after the elections. It is purely and simply government by caucus, a particularly bad form of dictatorship. "The Labour Party in Australia had its saner elements," Mr. Boucher continned, "but if they attempted to curb Labour's Socialistic activities they wero promptly 'disciplined.' The •word 'discipline' was freely used, and there was even talk in some .sections of 'disciplining' the Prime Minister, Mr. 3, H. Scullin, on his Tcturn from the Injpcrial Conference." unionism as it existed at pre-

sent was practically doomed in Australia. The workers were beginning to realise that for years they had been carryiing on their backs paid agitators, who had done tiiem far more harm than good. The workers had to realise that they had now to face altered conditions in the same manner as tho primary producers of the country. Australia was feeling the results of its short-sighted policy as far as tariff walls were concerned, and it was to be hoped that Now Zealand would never give protection to uneconomic and unsound industries as had been done in the Commonwealth. An illustration , of the failure of high tariffs was provided in the ease of one firm, which had a protection of 70 per cent, on its product, and which was now in liquidation. ■